Need Crab ID

Hey folks, just came back from the LFS with some Zoa's. Noticed under one of the rocks that the zoa's were on, was a mithrax looking crab... hairy legs, (no red eyes), green pinchers, however, the actual carapace(body) was a white/grey and corraline red looking color. Anyone know if this is a mithrax emerald or not? Also noticed that it was carrying several Juvenile (1mm tops) crabs with it...... even noticed a couple hiding out inbetween the zoas (most likely for protection until they're carapace hardens enough to go out into the wild).... I monitored the mithrax crab for the 2 hours i spent acclimating the zoas, and it didnt seem to bother the zoas at all, or make any attempt at picking at them.

Im tempted to throw it out- but i'd like someone else's thoughts. Will try and get a pic ASAP



Edit: Heres the pics... looks like an emerald with corraline algae on its back, but not even sure if thats possible? someone please help me out

PS: Note the baby crab on his left leg.

 

Looks like an emerald crab to me

 

Yep, looks like an emerald with coralline growing on it. I don't see why that wouldnt be possible, my turbo snails have coralline growing on them!

 

well, than there are about 25 baby emerald crabs crawling around my tank right now then- most likely to be picked off for fish food by either the fish or some of my other inverts. Hopefully a couple make it to adulthood

 

I am with da dude. Same with my turbos.

 

Congrats on the freebies!!

 

Looks like an Emerald crab, BUT.. that does not look like a baby crab on its leg. It really looks like a sea spider.

Please tell me you dipped that coral and still have the crab isolated.

 

emerald crab is the larger one, the smaller one on the leg is either a sea spider or a decorator spider crab

 

How can you tell? I clicked on the pic and magified it and it just looks like a blob to me. Seriously, that crab could have just picked up a disease after a wild crab weekend and it's just now manifesting. That's my vote. Wild crab weekend disease blob.

 

I Agree!!!