Can you please help me identify this big crab I found?

[kevinwholder]

I was doing some maintenance to my tank this afternoon and noticed the claw of an unknown crab. Did not get a good view at the time and it just went and hid while I was trying to see more of it. Quick note, I did not buy him and he is not "hairy", so that is somewhat a good thing I thought.

This evening I was feeding while sitting and admiring the tank and low and behold he showed himself in all his glory.

HE WAS HUGE.. He had to be at least 3" across... He was out on a rock with all of the other fish and fish around him and not bothering anyone, just getting him some of that good food and he stopped for a little photo op.

This guy, as I said earlier, was HUGE.. He looks like a big ole pinto bean in color and not hairy at all. He was not agressive to any of the fish, shrimp of other crabs. I just do not want to risk loosing my other babies in the tank.

I have NO idea what kind of crab he is and would really like to know. Can you help me out in identifying him or pointing me to a site to search for him? I am posting a few pics below.

Just for refernce to his size, the rock he is sitting on that has the red shrooms is about 7 inches wide.

[kevinwholder]

here are those two pics a little larger if that helps out at all. thanks for your help..

[RobinsonFam1]

i have no name for ya, just thought it was pretty kewl!
i have seen other with hitchiker crabs the size of baseballs though!

i would say that if he doesnt eat corals and others then leave him! as soon as he gets bad though then youve got a nice little snack!

[kevinwholder]

LOL

very true. he is pretty awesome looking. he strutted around while i was taking his picture. i was using the falsh and all.. He did not run away!! go figure.. but apparently he had to take a call and scurried away quite fast and I did not see him again all night long..

anyone else have a possible ID on this big guy?

[sitnlowdown]

thats a big crab lol wish i could help you on iding him but cant ill go thru my books this evening and see what i can find

[Ghotit]

almost looks like a stone crab , where did you prder the liverock from?

[kevinwholder]

bought it all locally. some from members here and majority from LFS. No other nasty hitchhikers but this guy has me puzzled. Cannot find a pic anywhere. However, I was looking at the website for the GA Aquarium (www.georgiaaquarium.org) and if you refresh the main page a few times, there is a crab they have a picture of on thier main page that looks like him.

anyone else have an idea what he is?

[Kalkbreath]

Originally Posted by kevinwholder

hey there.. when you get a chance, check out my post on the forum and see if you can tell me what kind of crab it is that I have found.


thanks

.....ITS IN THE "GETSITCHYOUTATHERE" SUB FAMILY .iTS TOO BIG AND WILL EAT FISH IF GIVIN THE CHANCE .
Did you have any fish in with it?
Ps your mail box is full .......could not send you a reply through personal M

[jdbassin]

Loks like one of the shame faces crabs to me



jd

[wasabi]

i cant identify him, but i bet he would be great with some drawn butter.

[kbxiong67]

hey....they sell that exact guy at underthewave. You should call them and ask to see if they're reef safe. Mike was showing me how this thing eats. It was was pretty kewl....I'd call over there asap if I were you.

KB

[jdbassin]

The shame face crabs have narrower set eyes though so it's prob not a shame face,oops. stone crab maybe?


jd

[kbxiong67]

Looks exactly like the shame face to me...except darker colors.

[jdbassin]

Eyes are too narrow set for shamefaced, try this link, Coral crab from flordia
http://www.tropicabelize.com/Crab%20...crab%20123.htm

lighter in color but the colors vary alot

jd

[Ray1214]

I think He must have been hiding in the live rock all this time and got big. I would think about trapping him. I keep a sump system with live rock just for that. (Home to a big ole hermit now).

Still if I had my trigger.....

Ray