Sally Light Foot Crab



This crab was chosen for many of the reasons that the shrimp was chosen: it eats algae and it does not grow to be too large.  This species is also known as the Nimble Spray Crab or Urchin Crab.

Sally is a scamperer, almost like a spider on amphetamines.  He (this one happens to be a male) can graze for a while, but then instantaneously be 3-4 body widths to one side or the other.  When you consider where his eyes are, it is amazing that he can move at all, let alone at blinding speeds.  Given the convex nature of the rock surfaces, there is no way he can see where his legs are about to go.  I guess he feels his way so rapidly that I can't see it.  Maybe a video camera and bright lights will reveal something when I get bored with the new corals.

Here you can see the yellow bands on the legs which result in his feet being "light".  You can also see the whiteish-blue "grin" under (above, in this picture) his eyes.



His light foot is very prominent here.



A great closeup of the Sally as he investigates the long tentacled Pacific Anemone.  The detail around the eyes is especially good.  Also notice the bristles on the legs.  The mottled carapace is not such good camaflage on the rocks of the substrate (sand).



While trying to climb the glass, you can see his entire configuration from below.  Notice the light semi-circle around his face.  When viewed from  the side, sometimes the only thing I can see from a distance is this bright blueish "grin".



Sally dances with himself in the mirror of the tank's glass.



His "grin" is clear here, as are his front feet and eyes.  You can barely see a whisper of an "eyebrow" above and inside the left eye.  He has a pair of small antennae which whip around constantly, flickering almost like windshield wipers (but too short to reach the eyes).  Function unknown.



He blends into the rocks very well: it can be difficult to find him.



There is one part of the tank which is not glass.  It is the "overflow" area and is made of black plastic.  It contains a series of small slots to allow the water to exit the tank to the pump and filters.  Here Sally has gripped the slots and is feeding on the algae.  The result is a striking silouhette.  You may be able to barely make out the slots on some monitors.



Sally eates algae off of a snail (under his right front long leg) while apparantly unimpressed by the Atlantic Anenome's tentacles.