The Puget Sound Aquarium Society

Finally caught the bugger. I've been slowly working on the 40, getting it cleaned up, as I move corals back into the 200. About a month or so ago, I saw this crab, but couldn't catch it. I knew I was going to be tearing into the 40 soon, so didn't try any of the known crab trapping tricks. I just figured when I started cleaning up the 40, I'd find and catch it. I didn't plan for it to take this long...lol. In the meantime, I believe this guy is to blame for the disappearance of several Zoanthid colonies. I have no idea where this guy came from, as there's been nothing at all added to this tank, in over a year...lol. Musta been tiny when it was introduced.

I've tentatively Id'd it as a Atergatis floridus. A. floridus is a member of the Xanthid family, commonly called Xanthid Egg Crab. Not sure where the "floridus" comes from, since they're mainly found around Australia, Hawaii, Korea, etc. and are actually listed as "Vulnerable" and Red Listed, in Singapore. Another interesting fact, I just discovered, it's not suggested you eat these guys. Their flesh is toxic and the toxins are similar to the neurotoxins of puffer fishes, and just as deadly.

So, this guy will be relegated to my sump.

He's kind of cool looking! Some crabs just look evil.

Kinda reminds me of a PNW crab.

Very cool. Never heard of a toxic crab, guess you'd better not squish him or anything like that. *lol*