Smitty's Reef

Quick update...my beautiful clam that I just bought a few weeks ago has died for no known reason. I noticed my cleaner shrimp sitting on top of him for about two weeks before it died, causing the clam to not fully open that whole time.
Also, while doing a w/c on monday, I've noticed this unknown "huge" hitchhiker crab(looks like a gorilla crab with red eyes) that I've never seen before underneath one of my rocks. Of course he disappeared on me, but I just got home this morning and he went inside one of my rocks right on top of the pile, so I was able to pull the rock out with him in it. I'm gonna try to flush him out and take a pic of him to see what he is and if he's reef safe. I'll keep you all updated.
 
I caught the lil' bastard...I had to break my pretty rock up to get him out, because the fresh water just wasn't working. Here's a few pics of the red eyed bugger. I'm gonna try to I'd him later.
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Yeah, I know...he actually startled me a little when I first saw him in my tank. His red eyes just keep staring at me.
 
Geez that was fast! You are a skilled crab hunter for sure!

I'm sorry to hear about your clam. It is unusual that it would just die, was it really small? The smaller ones have a lower success rate than the larger ones.
 
Geez that was fast! You are a skilled crab hunter for sure!

I'm sorry to hear about your clam. It is unusual that it would just die, was it really small? The smaller ones have a lower success rate than the larger ones.

Hahaha...yeah, I had to get that crab out of there before it was too late and he started eating everything in my tank.
And the clam was kinda small but not tiny to me, probably 3.5 inches long. I just noticed his foot hanging out from underneath him for no reason, I didn't move him at all...and then days later, he was dead and my cuc had cleaned him out.
 
That is a scary looking crab

sorry about your clam

Thanks Bryan...
And I think the red eyes is what's making him scarier looking. I still have not been able to id him from the crab identification website I looked at earlier.
 
Red eyed reef crab, from the pacific. They get to be 2 to 3" across at the shell, and are not reef safe. There are more than a few varities, so the one in the link may not be the exact same kind. Mine looked exactly like yours, with the 'racing stripes' down the middle. Thought he was awesome til he started going after my snails. :)

Red-eyed reef crabs (Eriphia ferox) on the Shores of Singapore
 
Thanks Zissou...I'll look into that link..I've been looking around online and it looks like it could be a Xanthidae crab species.
 
Good, looks like you got the crab I had sent over:mrgreen:
I have one of those bastards in my tank also. I have seen it twice or maybe two different ones:dunno:. Even though it has red beady eyes like in Z's link, I dont think it is that one. The legs appear more spread out in his link than on the crab in my tank. But who knows. The closet I have come to IDing it is a xanthid crab also.
 
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