Identify this crab species.

[VippiN]

Purchased two 'Cherry Spider Crabs' from Seaview Aquariums this arvo. Now the mangar was good enough to admit he didn't know exactly what they were but this was the name given by the supplier. Nothing on google on the name so just exactly do I have? Apparently native Australian.

To me they look like underwater Huntsmen Spiders.. I see what they mean about the Cherry though if you look behind/between their pincers.

Best picture I have currently:

And what I like to call the 'get near me and youre ****ed' pose:

Top view:

Also are there any crab based forums out there? I could only find one.. That was about cooking them.

 

[plah831]

Wow, they do look very much like aquatic Huntsmen. Just as an aside, when I was Down Under, I did nocturnal spotlighting to survey mammal populations, and many times I would see the chilly blue eyeshine of Huntsmen. Cool spiders. I much prefer them to the red-backed, ugh.

If you have no luck here, try www.petshrimp.com. They have an "other inverts" forum, in addition to a shrimp and crayfish forum. Folks there are very knowledgeable. Just a warning, Mustafa the admin there runs a tight ship (I'm scared of him!) so be on your best behavior As an example, see this thread asking about crabs that was closed because it was posted in the wrong section http://www.petshrimp.com/discussions/viewtopic.php?t=1508&highlight=crab

The only other crab forums I could find were Blue Crab (catching and eating them) and Hermit (pets).

Good luck on your quest!

 

[VippiN]

Thanks Plan831 for your reply. I've found no help in your links, and very little information about what kind of species this is on other forums. It seems when it comes to crabs the internet is lacking!

I'll bump this every few days and be hopeful someone will know.

 

[plah831]

No problem. I meant you should post your question and picture on that forum, as those guys know a lot about pet invertebrates. I don't know which would be the appropriate place for that question, though, except maybe "Other invertebrates". The posted thread was meant to show you the dangers of posting your question in the wrong place. Sorry for the confusion!