ID on hermit crab

[hondamx]

This isn't mine, it's a friends and he wants to know what it is. BTW, he knows it's not reef safe because it just ate $100 dollars worth of corals.

 

[hondamx]

After doing some research he kind of looks like a starry-eye hermit crab, Dardanus venosus.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/crabs/hermitcrabs.htm

It's almost at the end of the page. What do you guys think?

 

[Riverserver]

Petrochirus diogenes!!!!!! Will get 12" and will eat anything it can catch. DON'T KILL IT, they're a TON of people that would love to have the soon to be giant.

 

[Max]

River, I think that you are right. I'd have him put it into his fuge. You didn't know that the more expensive the critter was the better it tasted did you . I once had an atlantic hermit that was banished to the lfs after it became a $150 crab ! Wasn't it's fault just doing what it was supposed to do in an enclosed space.

 

[hondamx]

Really, 12"! You sure it's petrochirus diogenes? It looks more like the starry-eye to me, but I'm no expert.

 

[Riverserver]

It could be a Dardanus venosus, see if he can get a better shot of his back legs. His claws look more like Petrochirus diogenes but his hind legs make me think Dardanus venosus.

 

[hondamx]

The last one is 8 months ago. It sure has changed a lot in 8 months.

 

[Riverserver]

Sadly I'm going to say Dardanus venosus. Any hairy hermit crab is not reef safe and black tipped claws are a really bad sign.

 

[hondamx]

He says that he has a great personality so he's going to set up a 5 gallon just for him.

 

[Catpicklesdog]

You've just got love those blue eyes!!!!