crab id please

[dartfrog]

I caught this little guy recently while moving my tank...anybody know what it is? I've seen it eating algea off the rocks and meaty foods for the fish. I lost a yellow clown goby recently and think it might be the reason. The pic is poor quality but it is mostly black and has little "cups" at the end of its claws.
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[jennm]

Doesn't matter what kind it is - if it's destructive, get rid of it.

Sump it, or whatever -

Jenn

 

[ga_daisy]

I've got one in my tank that seems to be getting bigger and bigger everytime I spot him.

He seems to stay in one small area of the tank. The fish swim right by him, I've never seen him reach out and even attempt to snip at them. Mine travels up and down cleaning the algae off also.

Come to think of it.....I've not seen him in about three or four weeks and the algae is starting to grow around his neighborhood.:doh: Hope nothing has happened to him.

 

[rolo65]

Loks like a black rock crab...hard to tell for sure from the pic though...look under the hitchhikers guide thread......I have 2 in my tank.....was 3 but the third tasted the wrath of my makeshift trident!!!....no big deal when small but grow very quickly.....eat whatever they can grab......and passing fish are included

 

[fish scales2]

Can you get a pic of his claws please.

 

[rolo65]

Maybe a black mithrax crab rather than the rock crab.....

 

[fish scales2]

rolo65;497673 wrote: Maybe a black mithrax crab rather than the rock crab.....

Hmmmm....Kinda of thinkin that myself

 

[rolo65]

Yeah looks more like the black mithrax....the rock crabs are more well.....for lack of a better analogy.....a boxer....big claws for crushing....usually the mithrax will stick to algea....for the most part.....but as with most crabs they are oportunistic as well.....so your clown goby may have had something else occur and the crab finished him off....just my thoughts