Dead? Red Hairy or Bristly Crab

[renman303]

Today I found a dead? (may be molting) Red hairy crab (Pilumnus spinifer) • Bristly crab (Pilumnus hirtellus), not sure which it is? Resembling these pics..Red Hairy and Bristly Crab Info

However, I can't seem to find out much more than that? Anyone know anything about them?

[+mcallahan]

nice find!

I don't know anything about them, but perhaps you could do a "deadlist molt" show based on the action in your tank.

[GKarshens]

I would guess more likely a molt. They look just like a whole crab. Unfortunately that means he is probably still in there and doesn't look like a friendly type of crab.

[renman303]

I would guess more likely a molt. They look just like a whole crab. Unfortunately that means he is probably still in there and doesn't look like a friendly type of crab.

Why do you think it "doesn't look like a friendly type of crab"?

[GKarshens]

Because they RARELY are. In fact the only non-hermit crab I have ever heard of being reef-safe, and I have heard of exceptions to these too, is Emerald crabs.

[+ACampbell]

Hair is a bad indicator.

[renman303]

I'll move him to the QT tank just 2 B safe. I also got a free hitch hiker (Porcelein Crab) with my Pink Birdsnest via Drs Foster and Smith!

Edited September 19, 2008 by renman303

[tmelhiser]

Please let me know how you catch him. I have a similar crab that I would like to catch... without breaking down the tank.

-Travis

I'll move him to the QT tank just 2 B safe. I also got a free hitch hiker (Porcelein Crab) with my Pink Birdsnest via Drs Foster and Smith!

[SoonerFan]

There are some decorator crabs from Japan that are fine and virtually all of the commensal SPS crabs are perfectly fine (one of my favorite creatures in my tank - bought the coral colony because of the crab). Not all hairy crabs are bad and there are a bunch of "smooth" crabs that can be devastating, Leslie H is the inverts guru on Reef Central and if you can get pics, I would post an ID request on the invertebrates forum on Reef Central or ask Ron Shimek at Marine Depot forums.

I had a 2 to 3" black hairy crab in my scorpionfish tank for two years and never bothered anything (including the Hawaiian frogfish that gets about 2"). Crab taxonomy is very weak and knowing the habits of many is very hard. On reefcentral the suggestion is to usually place in fuge which is absolutely ludicrous, you don't want any predators in your fuge!

Lee

[SoonerFan]

The hitchhiker probably isn't a porcelain crab as the white ones are commensal with anemones and some lps and the greyish brown ones live on the rocks. One of the many SPS crabs. If your tank is healthy, the crab will NOT cause problems for the coral.

Lee

[renman303]

Hey Lee,

The hitchhiker is a Porcelain Anemone Crab (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai). For some reason he came in the Birdsnest Coral that I got and has not made an attempt to leave it, claiming it for his home.

The "Hairy" Crab, I now believe is dead. He's upside down in the sand and has been at the same spot since yesterday. I'll post a pic in awhile.

[renman303]

Nevermind about the pic....he's in pieces. Best I could do was the link to the pic that I posted earlier.

If "Hair is a bad indicator", then why are Emerald Mythrix Crabs considered "Reef Safe"?

Lee, if you get a chance, I'd like to know if you can drop by sometime and tell me what you think the tank may need? I have a lot of algae blooming on the rocks and it doesn't seem to be what the Angel or Tang want to eat. I hate to over populate with tons of crabs or whatever.....

Edited September 20, 2008 by renman303

[SoonerFan]

Yea, I can swing by sometime this week, probably Thursday around lunch or during the day on Friday.

Lee

[Entropy]

My rule of thumb for crabs is if they have pointy claws, they are probably better off in someone elses tank. The only crab I would trust would be the scralet hermit crab. Most of them hide all day anyway.