Got suspicious this morning when I notice a rock had moved a couple inches from where I remembered placing it. When I looked closer, a small beam of sunlight cast perfectly over a tunnel in the live rock, I saw some red eyes staring back at me.
I haven’t gotten any live rock in over 3 years, so this thing must have started as tiny? I would love an ID on this guy if anyone has a clue. I’m off to Google. he’s sitting in a plastic specimen container for now. I hope someone in a local club might want it to feed to a puffer or for a sump. The hippie in me just can’t kill it.
jeffry r. johnston
4 years ago
Those eyes are eerie. Good catch!
Chehaliscoral
4 years ago
Wow.. I’d love to find something like that in my tank. Those eyes are killer.
Dingdong
1 year ago
Anyone know what this crab is ? i recently found one of these in my small reef tank, not sure if its good or bad but so far only seems to pic at algae on the live rock.
stonyreef
1 year ago
Never figured out exactly what it was. I moved it to my sump to hold for someone that was going to put it in a mantis tank, and then it disappeared, no idea what happened. Anyway, those nocturnal red eyes and pointy-ish claws, coupled with a pile of snail shells, gave me a bad vibe.
Here’s a thread from Reef Central about it. Lots of speculation, but I agree with those that think it’s some sort of Xanthid crab. I completely disagree with the mentioned of Red Mithrax crab, no way!
At any rate, I’d probably move it to a sump or give it away.