Just checking--what kind of crab?

blorkiemom · #1 09/14/2005, 08:02 PM

This is a porcelin crab, I hope? He's got those little "fans" that he feeds himself with. They are honestly reef-safe . . . I hope? I have two of them and they're awfully cute and I'd hate to have to get rid of them.

bluenassarius · #2 09/14/2005, 08:31 PM

cute crabs

blorkiemom · #3 09/14/2005, 08:57 PM

Well, you know, all things being relative. :-)

shilo_1 · #4 09/14/2005, 09:57 PM

I got one a few months ago, but only saw it about a month, and never again. Not sure if its still there or not....

As far as I know they are reef safe filter feeders.

wombat2 · #5 09/15/2005, 06:35 AM

Have no fear.

Porcelain crabs (they're not true crabs!) are the safest of all the crabs. I don't even trust hermits.

shilo_1 · #6 09/15/2005, 10:29 AM

They aren't true crabs ? really ? What are they then ?
(We learn something new every day !)

wombat2 · #7 09/15/2005, 12:05 PM

True Crabs are Brachyurans. All Brachyurans will have 4 pairs of walking legs, and then the claws. Sometimes there will be some missing, of course, due to a hungry triggerfish or whatever.

Porcelain crabs and hermit crabs are Anomurans, and are in the order (I think it's the order) Decapoda. This means they are more closely related to shrimp, crayfish, lobsters, etc. They will have 3 pairs of walking legs, and never more. They have a very reduced pair in the back that gets tucked underneath the abdomen.

Anyway, if you get any "crab" into a bucket, or have really good eyes, you can find out real quick if you have a true crab or an anomuran. And anomurans, for the most part, are completely harmless.

This is one of the reasons I get so anal with latin names and taxonomy, incidentally. Every once in a while it can be useful :P :P :P

blorkiemom · #8 09/15/2005, 07:17 PM

Thanks so much for the info, Wombat. I don't trust crabs, either . . . but I'm sort of attached to these guys. Glad to know they are safe.