Crab Hitchhiker ID?

[tlhood]

Was walking by my tank while the moon lights were on and noticed this guy sitting out on my rock. He seems pretty shy, runs into a hole when he sees me around, which is why I had a hard time getting a picture.

He was picking on the algae on the rocks, and doesn't seem to be irritating my snails and hermits. He's got no hair, and he is a light blueish colour with stripes on his legs. Should I try to catch him? I'm looking to put corals in the tank.

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

Its hard to ID from your photo and description I recommend as you still know and see where he is to remove and place in a cup for better ID cause if you loose him... its always on your mind as a possibility of a bad case of crabs


Oh yes and welcome to the board

[tlhood]

The piece of rock he is in appears to have a tunnel network through it, so I would have to take out the entire rock which is about 9 lbs and at the bottom. Ill keep an eye out and try to grab a better picture of it.

Thanks for the welcome

[WarDog]

Bait a trap right outside of his lair just before lights off and wait! Only way to truly ID.

[tlhood]

Last night I managed to sneak up on the tank during lights out and use a flashlight to find him. I'm thinking he might be a kind of Xanthidae, but his claws and body are wrong compared to the pictures I can find.

[hillegom]

This might help

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html