Crab Identification

seank

seank

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Hi all

Again I am looking for help (I have posted this topic at another site so I am getting twice as good info)

For a couple of days now, I have noticed 02 small Whitish crabs in my tank. For how long they've been there and where they come from, I do not know.
I have tried to take photos but they very Camera (and people) Shy.

The only way to describe there Pincers is to say that it looks like 02 miniture "Mops" (the household cleaning type).

Can you guys please Id and also state if it is good Crabs or Bad Crabs, and if they Benificial to the system???
 
Sean very difficult to do with out a pic, the general rule is the hairy crabs are the ones to be careful of. The best way to see what they up to is at night with a torch, crabs are nocturnal creatures.
 
The closest I could find on Google was the image of the Boxer Crab (Lybia tesselata), that looks almost the same, but these ones in the tank is more whitish in colour
 
sean_koekemoer said:
For how long they've been there and where they come from, I do not know.
Click to expand...

these crabs and shrimps usually pop outa your LR.well thats from my experience
 
wow, that's a stunning crab, if you don't want it I have a lovely home for him :D
 
Yip. I just don't know where they come from. If I read up on the species, it says they from Hawaii, but all the stock I got in my tank, is :Live Rock from Fiji
Corals and fish mostly from Singapor. So really, I just don't know
 
THER IS A LOT OF INTERESTING FACTS ON gOOGLE ABOUT THIS cRAB SPECIES, AS WELL AS GOOD FEEDBACK FROM OTHER rEEFKEEPING SITES FROM MEMBERS. sO i THINK i'LL HOLD ON TO THEM. tHE ONLY PROBLEM IS:Now I am sitting permanently in front of the tank
 
Pom Pom Crab


Pom Pom Crab, Lybia tessellata, is a curiously comical aquarium addition. This Hawaiian native frequently carries a small anemone in each claw. There are at least two purposes for carrying the anemones. The first is a simple matter of defense. The Pom Pom will taunt would-be predators by shaking the anemones in hopes of stinging the invader into retreat. It also mops the substrate to gather uneaten food, thus creating a symbiotic relationship between the Pom Pom Crab and its pom poms. The anemone undoubtedly benefits by getting to eat its share of the treasure. Also known as the Boxer Crab, it is a hardy creature that grows to about an inch in length. Because of this small size, it is great for the mini-reef aquarium.
 
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Hey a Boxing Crab, they're super cool !!!!!

Never seen one for sale but love those nem boxing gloves.

Nice Find !!!!!!!
 
i see on overseas marine websites they selling them for $16 dollars. Expensive crustacians I think. Btw, I got to see them in my tank this morning.. Took sonn pics.
 
Sorry for not uploading last night. Was an unplanned boys night out and only got back 03 o'clock this morning. It has been a llllooonnng day and the mrs is not happy today. Here is some pics I took. Unfortunately not that good pics but I'll see in future if I can get a better view of this crabs

27052007123.jpg
 
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