can you Id a crab from just his shed?

majorjoey · 03/20/2017, 12:45 PM

I have a hitchhiker crab that I wish to Id
was wondering what type he was
can you ID a crab via his shedding armour>?

thanks

Joey

majorjoey · 03/20/2017, 12:50 PM

pretty sure this is same crab not sure why when he was younger (in his skin?)
his jaws are red but anyways offer to help ID

thanks

Joey

AlSimmons · 03/20/2017, 12:59 PM

I think it might be a Stone crab. These will sometimes hitchhike their way into our tanks via live rock.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/12/inverts

sam.basye · 03/20/2017, 09:36 PM

Looks like a mithrax.
The pointed claws indicate that it eats meaty foods. Supplementing with little bits of shrimp, etc. or shrimp pellets will keep it happy. They are opportunistic feeders, but won't catch a healthy fish.
Max size about 2.5-3".
They can be a very entertaining creatures.
There is an algae eating variant which has claws with flat, cymbal-like, tips for grazing algae.

majorjoey · 03/21/2017, 01:23 PM

thanks for the replies

Ron Reefman · 03/22/2017, 05:53 AM

Mithrax don't have black tips on their claws, at least not the ones I see. IMHO this is probably a stone crab, a carnivore which will grow way too big or die in an aquarium.

sam.basye · 03/23/2017, 02:28 PM

You sure, Ron?

About 2 years ago I collected this one from the keys. I was always under the impression that it was a mithrax.
If I remember correctly, it was living with some larger red emeralds and some larger white ones.

Stone crabs are usually more oval-shaped and have a glossy shell.

Maybe it's a hybrid stonethrax crab? Lol

AlSimmons · 03/23/2017, 02:49 PM

This link might help.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-12/rs/index.php

Ron Reefman · 03/23/2017, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sam.basye

You sure, Ron?

About 2 years ago I collected this one from the keys. I was always under the impression that it was a mithrax.
If I remember correctly, it was living with some larger red emeralds and some larger white ones.

Stone crabs are usually more oval-shaped and have a glossy shell.

Maybe it's a hybrid stonethrax crab? Lol

Stonethrax... I like it.

No, I'm not sure, but then the Mithrax crabs I've collected are always either very green or very ruby. So no, I'm not sure.

Mrs. Music · 03/24/2017, 05:23 AM

What you both have there are baby trouble makers. As soon as they are big enough to grab something they will.

majorjoey · 03/26/2017, 06:59 PM

Nice link more crab Intel then I could uptake !
I will catch mine soon
as I spot him again

aromano · 03/31/2017, 03:34 PM

that crab looks like a trouble maker. Mithrax are usually reef safe when small but even they can get rambunctious and cause issues. I have always heard black tip claws need to get them out of your tank.

03/20/2017, 09:36 PM	#4
sam.basye Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Lynchburg, VA Posts: 1,227	Looks like a mithrax. The pointed claws indicate that it eats meaty foods. Supplementing with little bits of shrimp, etc. or shrimp pellets will keep it happy. They are opportunistic feeders, but won't catch a healthy fish. Max size about 2.5-3". They can be a very entertaining creatures. There is an algae eating variant which has claws with flat, cymbal-like, tips for grazing algae. __________________ }<`SAM`;{°< Current Tank: 30 Cube build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2661418 26g Foam Rockwall build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2457621 Foam Wall

03/21/2017, 01:23 PM	#5
majorjoey Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sw PhiLLy BurBz ,PA Posts: 91	thanks for the replies __________________ "Too the last MaN!" ++++++++++++++++++ Current Tank Info: 90g aga Reef tank

03/22/2017, 05:53 AM	#6
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Mithrax don't have black tips on their claws, at least not the ones I see. IMHO this is probably a stone crab, a carnivore which will grow way too big or die in an aquarium. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

03/23/2017, 02:28 PM	#7
sam.basye Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Lynchburg, VA Posts: 1,227	You sure, Ron? About 2 years ago I collected this one from the keys. I was always under the impression that it was a mithrax. If I remember correctly, it was living with some larger red emeralds and some larger white ones. Stone crabs are usually more oval-shaped and have a glossy shell. Maybe it's a hybrid stonethrax crab? Lol __________________ }<`SAM`;{°< Current Tank: 30 Cube build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2661418 26g Foam Rockwall build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2457621 Foam Wall

03/24/2017, 05:23 AM	#10
Mrs. Music Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sylvania, OH Posts: 636	What you both have there are baby trouble makers. As soon as they are big enough to grab something they will. __________________ Midwest Custom Acylic 180 gallon, 2 AI Hydra Twenty Six HD, Tunze 6055, remote custom 75 gallon sump with chaeto refugium, Pan World pump, Reef Octopus INT 200 skim

03/20/2017, 12:59 PM	#3
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	I think it might be a Stone crab. These will sometimes hitchhike their way into our tanks via live rock. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/12/inverts

03/23/2017, 02:49 PM	#8
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	This link might help. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-12/rs/index.php

03/26/2017, 06:59 PM	#11
majorjoey Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sw PhiLLy BurBz ,PA Posts: 91	Nice link more crab Intel then I could uptake ! I will catch mine soon as I spot him again __________________ "Too the last MaN!" ++++++++++++++++++ Current Tank Info: 90g aga Reef tank

03/31/2017, 03:34 PM	#12
aromano Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 316	that crab looks like a trouble maker. Mithrax are usually reef safe when small but even they can get rambunctious and cause issues. I have always heard black tip claws need to get them out of your tank.