Help with Crab ID

[CPO]

hi, all the crab fanatics!


Would you mind to help me ID these crabs I caught from salt water and how should I care for them? What are they called?
Currently I'm putting them in saltwater, is there anyway to convert them to our tap water? and are these crab sold in aquariam and how much are they roughly sold for?

Thanks!

[lucasjiang]

looks like metopograpsus sp. In my opinion, impossible to convert to freshwater, not sold locally.

[CPO]

looks like metopograpsus sp. In my opinion, impossible to convert to freshwater, not sold locally.

Thanks for your ID, in your opinion, do you think I can fetch some cash for them are they really rare and good breed? if yes, how much do you think is a reasonable price? I think I can't commit to care for them. probably sell them off. thanks. Had a hard time catching them back at malaysia. ;S

[CPO]

any one interested in them? probably letting my 12-13 of them at 10$ pls sms 98208992.

[lucasjiang]

Pls dont catch crabs from the wild just to sell them again for a profit. Why dont you release them back where you caught them, they will be much happier in their habitat again than in someone's tank.

[sgbikee80]

these similar crabs can be found at ubin.
If you are interested, go to the small muddy area right the jetty, can see hundred of them at low tide

[stormhawk]

guqin should be able to ID this crab for you CPO.

I agree with lucas however, that you should release these crabs back where you found them, if you can't care for them.

[ranmasatome]

ya.. in the first place if you can't care for them..why catch them?
i seriously hope it wasn't to sell to make a few measly dollars.

[CPO]

Pls dont catch crabs from the wild just to sell them again for a profit. Why dont you release them back where you caught them, they will be much happier in their habitat again than in someone's tank.

Their natural habitat is in malaysia-pontian, I can't possibily head down north again to realese them. Spend the whole afternoon catching, thus I'm thinking if someone who can care for them and have more experience and take care of them. And the amount I'm asking for is just purely a token for my hardwork and effort to transport them back. It's not a large amount though

[lucasjiang]

Sorry, misunderstanding, i apologize.

Alternatively, you can release it at nearby beaches, i recommend pasir ris, the mangroves there are a superb habitat. east coast not so condusive, too 'commercialised'.

[CPO]

Sorry, misunderstanding, i apologize.

Alternatively, you can release it at nearby beaches, i recommend pasir ris, the mangroves there are a superb habitat. east coast not so condusive, too 'commercialised'.

Pasir ris is not too far for me, yep, I'll release them soon if no one wants to get them from me. All feeding well on small catfishes.

[lucasjiang]

thank you for your kindness your good deed has just benefitted the 12-13 lives in your hands.

[stormhawk]

Before you release them, please make sure they are native to Singapore as well, and to the particular area you intend to release them at. Introducing a non-native species can be detrimental to the crabs already present at the habitats.

[lucasjiang]

dont worry, these crabs are native to singapore, very abundant in fact. i saw them at pasir ris before and at the east coast breakwaters, and even at clifford pier last time.

[BEASTIEPENDENT]

Metopograpsus tukuhar

[stormhawk]

dont worry, these crabs are native to singapore, very abundant in fact. i saw them at pasir ris before and at the east coast breakwaters, and even at clifford pier last time.

There are 3 species of Metopograpsus native to Singapore, as listed here:
http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/2047.htm

Perhaps the ones CPO caught are members of one of the 3 species, which according to the site, are difficult to tell apart in the field, but I won't take a chance releasing them unless I know exactly what they are.

[guqin]

I would like to strongly urge anyone who has collected any living organisms, from any other countries, not to release them into the natural areas of Singapore. Firstly, no one can be absolutely sure what species are being released without an identification from a taxonomic expert on that particular group of organism. Secondly, the introduced organism may not be part of Singapore's biological composition and might cause ecological issues if later found to undermine the ecological balance of the various habitats. Thirdly, no one knows whether these organisms are carrying diseases that might spread them in our natural habitats. Lastly, collection of organisms in any countries require paperwork (collection permits), and to bring in organisms into Singapore requires an import permit from AVA.

[guqin]

Metopograpsus tukuhar

Unlikely to be Metopograpsus tukuhar has it has yet to be reported from Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, but I stand corrected.

[stormhawk]

I should sticky your previous post guqin.

[hwchoy]

Pasir ris is not too far for me, yep, I'll release them soon if no one wants to get them from me. All feeding well on small catfishes.

As Guqin stated, please DO NOT release them in Singapore, anywhere!

If you can't care for them or return them to Pontian, please pass it to me I will collect them on behalf of the museum.

Please PM me.