Crab Identification Needed...

[Timmay]

Can somebody help me identify this guy? He's purple with with a white underside and white stripes around his legs. He's a little bit bigger than a quarter but smaller than a half dollar. I've never seen him hurt a fish or any other inverts, but I've noticed a serpent star is missing a leg and a couple of medium hermit crabs are MIA. Anything you can tell me about this guy would be appreciated. I pasted a link below.

http://www.smokingchimp.com/temp/crab1.jpg

http://www.smokingchimp.com/temp/crab2.jpg

http://www.smokingchimp.com/temp/crab3.jpg

Thanks,
Tim

[TippyToeX]

I am sorry to say I have no idea about a postive ID, but I will say that is one mean looking bugger! If it were me I would get him out asap. Form follows function, and with claws that large (even if he doesn't grow any larger) I would think he could do some damage.
Also Reading here on RC many people comment that red eyes are telling for a ravenous carnivore.

[dc]

Well I'd get him out, he may eat snails etc in the future. Mine eats caulerpa, but snails also. I put him in a 5 gal Eclipse. I think they are cool.

http://images2.fotki.com/v23/photos/2/28482/171438/17crabindark-vi.jpg

[Timmay]

He's temporarily in an Eclipse 12 which is soon to be a home for seahorses.

If I can't get a positive ID, I'll probably give him away to someone local possibly for their refugium. Otherwise, I'll put him back in one of my reef tanks (http://www.smokingchimp.com/timsreef) . However, I have been thinking about getting a small tank for mean critters like mantis shrimp. So, maybe this will be the incentive I need.

Tim

[Python73]

That is some variety of stone crab. Like the claws you can buy at the seafood shop? Like nearly all other crabs they are opportunistic omnivores. It can and will eat anything it can get its claws on. Ban it.

Oh, btw... if you put that crab into a mantis tank, it will then be a SNACK. My mantis is drooling right now looking at your pic. :D

S !

[LittleFishBoy]

Also Reading here on RC many people comment that red eyes are telling for a ravenous carnivore.

Does that mean i need to take my albino ferret out of my reef tank? :rolleyes: :D

[freakyreef]

Yeah, he looks kinda mean. Nice coloring but he's got that"leave me alone or pay the price" look to him.
BTW thats some CLEAR water you got there! Nice pics