Resolved Hitchhiker crab red lines on top of head?

Hey guys! One more. Looong time ago I've seen something inside the rock and finally ended up giving up and thinking that it was one of my emerald crabs, but after my ALK spike which I blame for the death of 2 of them and the re-appearance of this little fellow got me curious again to try to trap it, unless it is a good, reef safe creature that won't eat my fish in the future!!

Here are the pics and this is the best I can do since he doesn't leave the holes in this very, highly holey piece of rock since the day I saw him in there. The 3 stripes on his top part are red, like king crab red and they're located 1 in the dead center of the top shell and two more that start from right behind his eyes, which are also red, by the way.



One more...



I was unable to see if his claws are pointy or not. He stays hiding. I'll try to catch a glimpse again tonight.

Thanks for the help!

- Mag.

 

When I click on the second picture, the crabs claws appear to have a point.

Edit: both claws are the same size?

 

Xanthid crab

 

Sorry, I can't ID between my old eyes and those two shots.

Try here: Crab Hitch Hikers

 

Crab Hitch Hikers

Scroll down to Porcelain Crab. Yours looks like the one on far right in the first row.

 

I was unable to see if in fact is pointy claw or not. He stays very much hidden. I may have to figure out a way to trap him. His left claw is much bigger than his right claw. Does it mean anything?

I googled it but nothing came up that is similar to my little hichhiker! Thanks! Keep throwing names or possible matches! I'll check them out!

I'm going to read the Crab ID threads now. Hope I find one like him. He has never been out of that rock.... in fact, I believe that he was much more smaller when I saw him the first time, 7 months ago. And he's now almost double the size!

 

This would be his "hunting" claw; meaning I think it is going to be a predator in your tank. I am unsure though.

 

most Xanthid crab species have black tips on there claws. i have seen some white and bright orange that are xanthid crabs too so if anything try to catch it and put it in your sump or fuge.

 

I see.. I've been looking at the Xanthidae species and the body shape does match, the colors don't. But I've seen most of them have red eyes and pincers are black. I'll try to catch him tonight. Still need to see what I can entice him with. I don't have any shrimp or dried up clams.

Thanks!!

If anyone can confirm this it would be great. He's been living there for at least 7 months or little longer. I haven't noticed anything missing or eaten on any of my corals and for the past 2 nights I've been trying to get a shot instead of capturing him... I'll put the shot glass with something to make him hungry, but I'm sure I'll get the nassarius instead. This guy does not leave the caves of this big rock.

- Mag.

 

the bottom right