Hitchhiker crab

[scubabr53]

Please help to identify hitchhiker crab that masteriosly appeared in my reef tank.
It might fetch a ride on the piece of coral I got ether at Sun-Blass or Contodora islands in Panama where I was diving in March. It might be so small at the time that I did not even see it.
It hides all the time and only picks out from under the rock ledge. I noticed crab?s presents for some time but only yesterday got lucky to see the whole crature and took a snap shot.
Few questions if anyone can answer:
Are my fish in denger
Are any of my corals in denger?
What does this crab eat?

Appriciate any information you can provide.

 

[rookie07]

Gorgeous!
I'd say everything is in danger, but that is a guess.

 

[ssminnow81]

I think it's a clown crab...
I'd Trade u for it. It would be a good fit in my sons pest tank. Pm me if ur interested

 

[scubabr53]

I think this is one of the shame face crabs but a different coloration.
Yes it's gorges the coloration and markings are superb. Sorry I am not interested in trade and even if I was I wouldn?t be able to get him now without turning my rock work upside down. Guess it has to live in tank until it dies. I wonder where my snails disappear; I bring snails form Florida every month and watch their count go down to a few. I was blaming my hermits but I guess they are not the one committing the crime.
Species Name: Hepatus epheliticus
Authority: (Linnaeus, 1763)
Common Name: Shame-faced Crab
Range: Caribbean
Natural Environment: Shallow sandy areas
General Husbandry: Has a temperature range of 73 to 79?F (23 - 26?C). Needs a deep sandy substrate and is basically nocturnal. Needs a meaty diet. Probably best left in the wild.

Photo Credit: James Fatherree


Navigate > Top > Crabs > Shame-faced Crab > Hepatus epheliticus

 

[rookie07]

You took it out of your tank for the pic and then put it back in?!?!

 

[scubabr53]

Yes i did. I don't have any other place to keep it and it would be completely lost in the refugium if I put it there. Maybe I made a mistake but couldn?t bring myself to kill this gorgeous creature. By the way it?s about 1? in size. Not sure if it?ll grow more.

 

[ssminnow81]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vEKaKeTPYV8

 

[ssminnow81]

If this is the clown crab I've read
It can pick at coral and will eat anemones.

 

[scubabr53]

You are correct. Images for clown crab


Son of a b?ch!!!! I wondered why are my prized zoas disappeared and the zoa rock I paid $100 start looking like my bold head. Now I know I made I big mistake, how I will flash it out now?

 

[ssminnow81]

Try A pc of Shrimp in net see if he climbs in. Pm me when u catch him I'll pick it up. Lol

 

[rookie07]

In the future, when you get something out of the tank, don't put it back in until you know it's safe!
Use a tupperware container with some tank water to hold it until you have an answer.

 

[BAD FISH]

In the future, when you get something out of the tank, don't put it back in until you know it's safe!
Use a tupperware container with some tank water to hold it until you have an answer.

exactly what I would have said. Lol good luck catching him now took me over a year to catch a stone crab in my tank

 

[ssminnow81]

exactly what I would have said. Lol good luck catching him now took me over a year to catch a stone crab in my tank

Y did u want the stone crab out? Did it bother coral or fish? I almost bought one last weekend

 

[scubabr53]

SSminnow81, I will and thanks for the eye opener; if I could I would bite myself for placing him back in the tank.

 

[BAD FISH]

Y did u want the stone crab out? Did it bother coral or fish? I almost bought one last weekend

he was choping zoas ,eating all my snails/ hermits and knocking rocks over all the time. Plus he would through his claws up at fish as the swam buy. He was a beast

 

[scubabr53]

BAD FISH, How did u get him out?

 

[BAD FISH]

at night he would roam around and I would try to catch him off guard one night I did with a net and a swift hand lol

 

[BAD FISH]

my 1,868th attempt

 

[scubabr53]

OK, Thanks for advice and wish me good luck. I will go on the hunt tonight.