Another Crab ID Thread

[Albertan22]

There's more hitchiker crabs than I'd care to admit, but I caught sight of this a few days ago and thought to myself "that's one mean looking crab". He seems to reside in a piece of rock that my hammer coral is attached too and would require more work than I'd like to get out. Anybody know what he is?

http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv120/Albertan22/DSCN2118.jpg

[nlreefguy]

thought the overall appearance does not look great, those claw tips look a lot like an emerald. so maybe at least partially an algae eater?

[bvlester]

It does look like an emerald crab sme people leave them in there tank and some do not. In geral crabs are a bad thing in a reef tank but some are ok I have a freind that has an emerald crab that is about 3-4 inches across and jst kind of hangs out in his spot does not move away from that one spot much at any time. at least emerald crabs eat algae.

Bill

[Eyford01]

if the work of catching him is your worry try the tilted jar against the rock with a shrimp in the bottom for bait, the glass is too slppery to get back out, caught a ton of hermits this way and my pom pom a few times.... even caught the hitch hiker once

[Albertan22]

I don't think its an emerald, it's hairy and black with white stripe-like markings on it's legs. Might try the glass trap.