Red mathrix crabs

[lawdawg18]

Could someone point me to some info on Red mathrix crabs?
I can never get the search function to work here.
I have a couple in my live rock. Should I take them out or are they ok? I plan to have mainly fish but plan to add some corals (polyps, mushrooms), and Anemones as time goes by.



Tank is 150 gallons. 30 gal sump/refugium, 100 pounds of live rock
Ice cap 430s with 4 VHOs

[Paintbug]

google search works 24/7 http://www.reefcentral.com/search.php?s=&menu=11

those crabs are a cousin to the emerald crabs. as with any crab the will eat whatever they find. the Mithrax forceps are said to be more aggresive than the emeralds. some people find them not to be reef safe. others have not had them bother anything. i dont have the Mithrax forceps, i have emeralds.

[lossman]

We had mithrax in our tank. They were extremely entertaining but one day found them chewing on my discosomas and ricordias. Took them all out. Well, thought I did, until the other night when I looked at the tank after lights out. I found two more tiny ones. Once they get bold enough to come out of hiding, they will probably be removed too.

[fishman805]

For the most part, crabs are opportunistic feeders and will eventually start eating on your prized corals and whatever strikes their fancy.... Even and perhaps especially the hermit crabs... I've had no problem with a lone red legged hermit in my 12gal nano cube but there is enough stuff for him to eat without him wanting to eat anything else..... The biggest problem I've encountered with hermits is when they need a new "home"... They then start to dine on any snails that have a bigger home than they do .....



Bob