Crab type?

Unfortunately I can not get a pic of it because it never comes out from under the rock. I will try to describe what I have seen.

It appears to be like an emerald crab in shape. It is light brown in color with darker brown rings around it's legs. It's main claw has some light blue on it. I wish it would come out completely so I could see it or get a decent pic. I did not buy it and the last time I bought live rock was over a year ago.

Any ideas on a type?

 

Possibly a type of Xanthid crab? Would need a picture to ID it though.

 

Does it look like this? Bad Crab!

 

I have tried to lure it out with food but will try again tomorrow. It is difficult because the fish nab any food I put on the feeding stick before he has a chance to come out. I may try some type of box with the food in it. I did notice my sand sifting star has a leg missing today. Not sure if he did it or the Sally lightfoot did it.

Caloradoreef, it does look similar to that from what I have seen but I have not seen his whole body. What type of crab is that? How is it bad?

 

A general term would be a gorilla crab. The brown crabs with black claws are generally considered bad. They will eat just about anything they can get. Here is a pic of mine I captured. I couldn't keep snails in my tank until I got rid of it.

Yours may be fine without a pic its going to be hard to tell

 

From what i have seen that is it. I have never been able to keep snails and if be came on some live rock a year ago that might explain it. I am surprised I never noticed him until here recently though. I guess I need to get it out. Any suggestions other than dissasemble my rock work?

 

Its almost impossible. I got lucky mine was living in a rock that was in the front of my rock scape. I just lifted the rock out and he darted up in his hole in the rock. I just picked him out with some tweezers.

One thing you could try is to put a cup at an angle half buried in the sand.
Put some bait in it and hope he goes for the bait. Once he is in the cup he cant crawl back out since the inside of the cup is smooth.
I never seen this work but I tried it for a few days before I just pulled the rock out.
Good luck!

Hope you get him.

 

I have a nightmare crab that like to munch on my sps. Im pissed off that I cant catch it.

Its no longer in its typical spot after seeing tweezers try to grab it multiple times. gonna have to wake up at 3 am to try to catch this guy. Hes doing some munching and Im upset.

Catch this guy before its too late.

 

I am devoting this weekend to getting rid of him. Somehow, someway.