Crab ID

I know ya'll love this as much as I do. I found this tiny, little crab yesterday. He is about the size of the nail on your little finger; i.e., he is about 1/4" across, with his claws pulled in.

I thought he was a pebble at first, then I thought I saw movement, so I watched for a while. And there he was! Mr.IttyBittyCrab. I know he's carnivorous, because of the tips of his claws. But, he isn't hairy, and he isn't red, and he certainly isn't threatening looking.

Look around on the 'net and see what you can find out about our little friend here. I am attaching a couple of pics for your amusement. [smiley=grin3.gif] [smiley=laugh4.gif]

 

[glow=Red, 3, 900]Here's another pic.  Amazing isn't it??[/glow] [smiley=speechless.gif]

 

Man he's cool.

Reminds me of some of the Dungeness crabs on my beach!

8)

 

[glow=red, 2, 300]Get the butter and garlic ready [smiley=jester.gif]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/glow]

;D 8)

 

[glow=LimeGreen, 2, 800]LOL!!!  About the only thing I've found so far was a menu item in Maine!!!  The Maine Rock Crab, courtesy of Google Images:[/glow] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]​

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[glow=Green, 3, 900]I don't know guys.  The one I have wouldn't be a good meal for a decent size field mouse.[/glow] ;D​

[glow=Navy, 2, 800]Edit: Come on, people! We are supposed to be better at this than this.[/glow] [smiley=laugh4.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=devilish.gif] [smiley=grin3.gif] [smiley=wink3.gif] [smiley=wave.gif]​

 

[glow=red, 2, 300]Cancer antennarius [/glow] or rock crab is my guess.
but it's just a guess.

J

 

[glow=Red, 3, 900]Thanks, jakets. I'll check that out in a little while. First guess I've had all day, so that's pretty cool. It would also be cool if you "hit" this one first try too, wouldn't it?? I'll let you know in a half-an-hour or so... [/glow]​

[smiley=cool4.gif] [smiley=grin3.gif] [smiley=pimp2.gif] [smiley=smart.gif] [smiley=sunny.gif] [smiley=wave.gif]​

 

Using the name you gave me Cancer antennarius, I came up with the following Google Image. The images are looking more and more like my little bitty critter [smiley=grin3.gif]:

www.humboldt.edu​

I think if we found some of these guys a little "younger" we'd probably have my teeny crab nailed. But, even though they look SO MUCH alike, it is difficult to make that leap that takes me from little, harmless, itty-bitty crab, to this possibly destructive, defintely opportunistic predator. I hope I can catch Mr.IttyBittyCrab before he gets this big.

 

Ya, I now big leap.  It's the big meaty claws that elliminate a lot of the other crabs.  It could be a red eye crab just very small.  But you havn't added LR or anything attached to LR lately have you?  So I assume it's mature??  
Try
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/crabs/swcrabs.htm
J

 

[glow=Red, 2, 80%]Hey jakets,

I have added a couple of small pieces of LR recently, because they both have beautiful fan worms on them. I'm fairly certain my little crab came out of the new rocks.

He's got a LONG way to go before he is a problem. At his size right now, he really couldn't hurt much of anything. When he gets a little larger, he will have to contend with my Checkerboard Wrasse (Fido), who has a mouth that will crush his shell like a robin's egg.[/glow] [smiley=hammer.gif] [smiley=skull.gif]

[glow=Teal, 2, 80%]I think I might like to keep him. So I am going to be watching for him again and when I see him, I'll put him in my sump/refugium. He'll be safe there.[/glow] [smiley=wave.gif] [smiley=thumbs_up1.gif][smiley=angel.gif]