EVIL PERSONIFIED!!

[FishDaddy]

I've known about a mystery crab in my 55 for the past couple of months. I first noticed him after adding a couple of Mithrax crabs and one evening caught a glimpse of a third! I couldn't get a good look at him but it was about the size of one of the Mithrax but wasn't greenish.
This evening, I was just about to feed when I spotted him in the front corner. This was no Mithrax! I used the very scientific and precision method of crab removal by quickly reaching in and just grabbing the rascal! Its sitting in a gl*** of tank water on my desk as I type. I'm going to set up a crab tank (bucket with airstone) til I figure out what to do with it. Its really a neat looking critter; he just doesn't belong in my reef! http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif
Its carapace is over an inch wide; dark brownish grey with tiny tan speckles; mean looking red eyes and not hairy. The closest match I've found is Ovalipes australiensis, a sand crab:
(http://www.mov.vic.gov.au/crust/images/crusties/brachyur.1/j24217.jpg
but darker than this picture:
http://www.mov.vic.gov.au/crust/imag...r.1/j24217.jpg
I suspect that this is similar to Cath's recently demised Crabzilla. I'll get a picture and post it soon.
D*ick http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif
http://www.poundingsurf.com/ag00180_2.gif

[emoR ekaJ]

****,

that picture looks related to the blue crab. tose get big, they are good to eat. they gat like 7" wide

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my instant messinger is emoRekaJ87 I am on alot so IM me

[FishDaddy]

This generic picture of a sand crab is closer to the coloration:
http://outer-banks.nc.us/photoalbum/photos/crabby.jpg
Di*k http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Elvis]

It does look like a small blue crab... Raise him till he's big then pull out the Old Bay seasoning...

I hate to state the obvious but you do have alternative housing http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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I thought I was me, but we were wrong
email: geeflipr@internetcds.com

[bpaul_jpaul]

Hello,

that is one of the swiming crabs, They move very fast because of the paddles they have on the back legs. It is NOT a small blue shell. I live in the northeast where every summer i go blue crabing and do they ever taste so good. Nice sweet crab meat. But blue shells have a point on both sides of the shell that are very large. Also the front to claws are blueish, green and white. they easy can break the skin once they get you so be very carefull of them.

I would get this crab out of the tank right away because they will eat fish and corals. Mostly fish and you be surprise at how good they are at catching them.

[FishDaddy]

bpaul_jpaul,
Its definitely not a Blue Crab...I've trapped too many of those tasties! http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif
I agree that its one of the swimming types and it no longer swims in the 55 but a temporary bucket with an airstone!
Dick http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif

[emoR ekaJ]

yea, I knew that it was not a blue, becaise of the spines that are not there, but I was suggesting that it could be a relitive of them, I would think that usale swimming crabs can get pretty big for crabs

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my instant messinger is emoRekaJ87 I am on alot so IM me