Dark Blue Crab

Nafe · 07-23-2004, 03:39 AM

Just after i got home from work today i managed to catch a glimpse of a fantastic looking crab in my tank.

I has a Incredible looking blue all over its body, with its pincers being dark blue almost black.

Just wondering if anyone has info on this type of crab? Sorry i dont have any photos.

Jeremy1973 · 07-23-2004, 08:24 AM

Without a pic, very hard to say. Was this crab smooth? Hairy? Were the claws small, big and fat, blunt ended or sharp ended, ... If you can get a pic, that would be great. There are just SOO many species of crab out there.

BTW, congrats on your find...I love finding new things in my tank, it is so exciting!

Nafe · 07-23-2004, 10:19 PM

It has a smooth body, with slightly hairy legs. The pincer arms are longer then usual and the pincers and the arms arent very wide, The pincers are definately sharp

i wouldnt want to get bitten by it.

Also looks like i might have another mantis in the display tank...found the remains of another smaller crab. Hopefully it was just a larger crab that took it out.

Alice · 07-24-2004, 12:17 AM

It might have been a crab molt that you saw; if you have hungry critters in your tank, the remains wouldn't last long.

Crabs are interesting...but not in my tank, lol. Some will eat small fish and shrimp, others will demolish your corals. If you really want to keep them, you might want to set up a small tank for them or keep them in your sump if you have one.

Just go on the assumption that all crabs are evil.

Nafe · 07-24-2004, 03:26 AM

No it wasnt a molt because i observed it feeding on nuisance algae.

At the moment they arent doing any harm so for now they will stay, i hope i dont have to get rid of them because i literally have tonnes of them, it wouldnt be an easy job

.

akula · 07-24-2004, 10:21 AM

I recently saw a blueish crab at a store and asked about it. the answer was that it was just a different color variation of the common emerald crab. Looking at it closely it did look the same as green emerald or red mithrax crabs. your discription of smooth body, hairy legs and eating algea fits with this type of crab.