Resolved Hitchhiker ID

Discussion in 'ID This!' started by mike007, Jan 21, 2011.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

Page 1 of 3
  1. mike007

    mike007 Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2010
    Messages:
    539
    Location:
    Miami, Fl
    Soo, This little guy came with my 3lb piece of Live rock and I was wondering if he's reef safe.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Thanks in advance
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2011
    mike007, Jan 21, 2011
    mike007, Jan 21, 2011
    #1

    2. Click Here!

  2. Clonefarmer

    Clonefarmer Millepora

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2010
    Messages:
    924
    Location:
    Springfield, MA
    Here is a Guide to Hitchhikers. Hard to tell from a pic and I'm no expert, but it looks like a Xanthid crab.
     
    Clonefarmer, Jan 21, 2011
    Clonefarmer, Jan 21, 2011
    #2
  3. Zoanthids21

    Zoanthids21 McKoscker’s Flasher Wrasse

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,249
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Im almost 99.9% sure thats a mithrax crab..From what i have read and known about them they will act the same as a emerald crab, i know a few people who have them.
     
    Zoanthids21, Jan 21, 2011
    Zoanthids21, Jan 21, 2011
    #3
  4. Dratini

    Dratini Plankton

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2010
    Messages:
    23
    Location:
    Syracuse, NY
    If you get a clearer picture of the claws it will make it easier to identify. Many species of mithrax crab are considered pests and as they grow will become opportunistic eaters and take small fish when possible. I just had to remove a banded clinging crab for this very reason. It's a shame too, I rather liked him until he started killing my yellow clown gobies.
     
    Dratini, Jan 21, 2011
    Dratini, Jan 21, 2011
    #4
  5. Zoanthids21

    Zoanthids21 McKoscker’s Flasher Wrasse

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,249
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Most crabs will get to that point. Emerald crabs do the same thing, they can get a little too big and start taking out some of the smaller fish. Crabs are just like that IME.
     
    Zoanthids21, Jan 21, 2011
    Zoanthids21, Jan 21, 2011
    #5
  6. missionsix

    missionsix Super Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2007
    Messages:
    5,734
    Location:
    Bend,Oregon - USA
    Gorrilla crab?
     
    missionsix, Jan 21, 2011
    missionsix, Jan 21, 2011
    #6

    7. Click Here!

  7. Zoanthids21

    Zoanthids21 McKoscker’s Flasher Wrasse

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,249
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    IMO Gorilla crabs have a different coloration and are more "hairy".
     
    Zoanthids21, Jan 21, 2011
    Zoanthids21, Jan 21, 2011
    #7
  8. missionsix

    missionsix Super Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2007
    Messages:
    5,734
    Location:
    Bend,Oregon - USA
    IMO, this particular ID looks nothing like a mithrax crab in the coloration. More hairs? How can you make that assumption judging by the quality of the pics? IMO, it easily looks 90+ % more like a gorrilla than a mithrax regardless of the picture quality. Either way, it was just a guess. Crabs aren't my forte.
    EDIT:
    mithrax
    http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&...=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=510
    gorrilla
    http://www.google.com/images?oe=utf...tle&resnum=1&ved=0CCIQsAQwAA&biw=1280&bih=510
     
    missionsix, Jan 21, 2011
    missionsix, Jan 21, 2011
    #8
  9. Zoanthids21

    Zoanthids21 McKoscker’s Flasher Wrasse

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,249
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    True..I saw this post of almost he SAME crab on this other site a few days ago and it was a pinkish looking emerald crab..And they all said it was a mithrax crab..

    http://www.3reef.com/forums/inverts/emerald-crab-64770.html

    Scroll down to the pinkish redish crab.
     
    Zoanthids21, Jan 21, 2011
    Zoanthids21, Jan 21, 2011
    #9
  10. mike007

    mike007 Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2010
    Messages:
    539
    Location:
    Miami, Fl
    Thanks For all the replies everyone! I think it is indeed a Gorilla. I'll take another picture of it now and show the hairy top and claws just to make sure.

    If it is, should I take it out? I don't want to have to worry about supplemental feeding and whatnot when it gets big. I don't want to deal with it really. ::)
    Is it worth anything for a trade at the LFS?
     
    mike007, Jan 21, 2011
    mike007, Jan 21, 2011
    #10
Page 1 of 3