Hitchhiker Crab

[returnofsid]

Finally caught the bugger. I've been slowly working on the 40, getting it cleaned up, as I move corals back into the 200. About a month or so ago, I saw this crab, but couldn't catch it. I knew I was going to be tearing into the 40 soon, so didn't try any of the known crab trapping tricks. I just figured when I started cleaning up the 40, I'd find and catch it. I didn't plan for it to take this long...lol. In the meantime, I believe this guy is to blame for the disappearance of several Zoanthid colonies. I have no idea where this guy came from, as there's been nothing at all added to this tank, in over a year...lol. Musta been tiny when it was introduced.

I've tentatively Id'd it as a Atergatis floridus. A. floridus is a member of the Xanthid family, commonly called Xanthid Egg Crab. Not sure where the "floridus" comes from, since they're mainly found around Australia, Hawaii, Korea, etc. and are actually listed as "Vulnerable" and Red Listed, in Singapore. Another interesting fact, I just discovered, it's not suggested you eat these guys. Their flesh is toxic and the toxins are similar to the neurotoxins of puffer fishes, and just as deadly.

So, this guy will be relegated to my sump.

 

[saltwaterfishes]

He's a big one! I have one in the main tank....haven't figure out how to catch it yet. Not as big as this one though. Did you take the rock out to catch him?

 

[lvsuckerfish]

here is a good site to help with ID's also worms corals what not

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/

 

[str8juizy]

I actuall think he is kinda neat looking! I had a couple of gorrilla crabs that hitch hiked in on some rock... they are really bad!

 

[returnofsid]

Kaytlin, yes, I did remove almost all of the rock, from the 40, in order to catch this guy. Watch your Zoanthids. I'm almost 100% sure this guy was destroying Zoanthids, on the order of a colony every couple of days!!

lvsuckerfish, Yes, Chuck's site is awesome, for IDing hitchhikers, though I actually IDd this guy through a couple different sites.
Here's one of them.
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/reefs/guamimg/index.htm

 

[saltwaterfishes]

Kaytlin, yes, I did remove almost all of the rock, from the 40, in order to catch this guy. Watch your Zoanthids. I'm almost 100% sure this guy was destroying Zoanthids, on the order of a colony every couple of days!!

That explains why I had a paly grandis polyp missing
I can't remove the huge rock, any idea how to catch it?

 

[TJL]

Sid, he'll be an awsome addition as caretaker to the SUMP. That is where my Banded Coral Shrimp reigned for a year or so before breaking down my old 50g, NO Bristle worm outbreak in that sump/fuge

Todd

 

[ajnweb]

sweet looking crab, nice catch!

 

[roscoe]

That explains why I had a paly grandis polyp missing
I can't remove the huge rock, any idea how to catch it?

Well Kaitlyn sice it likes to eat zoas. Find out it's hiding spot and use a small not too short and not too tall glass cup and place a zoa frag in there next to it's hiding spot. If it deccides to go for the zoa in the glass cup. It is SOL because it can't climb back out of the glass cup.

 

[kungfuchan2000]

My wife saw the macro pictures and said "Awwwww, sooo cute!!!!" She is in love with coral crabs.

 

[returnofsid]

My wife saw the macro pictures and said "Awwwww, sooo cute!!!!" She is in love with coral crabs.

It is actually a really cool looking crab.

Kaytlin, I've heard a lot of very successful stories, using the glass method that Roscoe outlined. A "tumbler" sized glass should work fine. Tip it at a 45 degree angle, near it's rock. Put a piece of frozen prawn or something in the bottom, as bait. Oh, if you do this at night, you'll be less likely to lose your bait to fish. The crab goes for the bait, and can't climb back out of the glass.

Supposedly, these crabs are supposed to be herbivorous. However, in researching it tonight, I saw a lot of pictures of them eating dead fish...lol. My tank had PLENTY of Ulva algae growing, so if it was herbivorous, it had PLENTY to eat. I'm still almost sure it's what was cleaning out my Zoanthids.

 

[estanoche]

Only you can catch a giant hitchhiker crab that isnt the evil kind with the black pinschers - geez.

 

[returnofsid]

Only you can catch a giant hitchhiker crab that isnt the evil kind with the black pinschers - geez.

It's got black tips to it's pinchers and BIG ones!! Come on over and check it out!! lol

 

[Lakota]

He looks just like one of those poisonous toads. Made me chuckle. It's nice when nature gives us consistant warning signs

 

[returnofsid]

He looks just like one of those poisonous toads. Made me chuckle. It's nice when nature gives us consistant warning signs

LOL Never thought of that, but you're right, they do have similar markings!!