Crab ID please + some amazing photos =)

[worley]

Could I get an ID on this crab please?
http://www.algaescrubber.net/img/crab.jpg

Thought I'd share this with you guys... I found this guy, or should I say girl... upside down at the highest point of the rocks in the tank, spawning!!

http://www.algaescrubber.net/img/crab-eggs1.jpg
And the eggs in detail:
http://www.algaescrubber.net/img/crab-eggs2.jpg

I knew I got a macro lens for a reason =D

[worley]

P.S. we've had a bunch (30+) zoanthid eating crabs (red eyed) recently and want to make sure this isn't similar. Is this an algae eater?

[rainerfeyer]

Those are truely great pictures! Using an SLR, are you?

Not a crab expert - but he looks sort of like a decorator crab I have. Does he have an oval white 'shield' on his back?

Rainer

[worley]

Aye, Nikon D700

[rainerfeyer]

Beautious!

I mentioned decorator crab, but, they have white claws. With Black claws I have seen them referred as mithrax crabs.

I had two hitchhikers a while ago and did some research - most people throw up the red flags 'They're killin your tank' where most experts are less morbid. But, in general, the mithrax (? sp) has the worst reputation even with experts. With these nice pics you could try posting to Eric Borneman for ID?

Rainer

[mangobusa83]

this bad boy is known as a Gorilla Crab...my suggestion is to remove her and her babys pronto... sorry but if I saw this post sooner you would have had a answer faster