Found a predatory crab, how do I trap him ...

LoJack · 09/04/2008, 01:08 PM

Last night I saw the freakiest thing ever, huge huge black crab. the only thing I've seemed to be able to ID him as, is a xanthid crab.

I have had a few small fish dissappear lately ... noticed nips in the tails, but the only other fish inhabitants could not be the culprits.

Last night I finally saw it, almost 3 1/2 inches across, jet black, reticulated legs, and huge claws. The claws look like they have teeth within the teeth, bright red eyes.

I don't know how I never saw this thing when putting the live rock into the tank, its only 2 months old, so this crab must have been pretty big when I first introduced it to the tank.

Anyway, I have 150 lbs of LR and would like to not have to remove it ... how can I trap him? Bait him? remove him?

Thanks

--Tyler

kzickovich · 09/04/2008, 01:53 PM

find a glass that is four inches across put some krill in it and place it in the tank at a 45 deg. angle he will go in to eat and can't climb back out

Diffusion · 09/04/2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kzickovich
find a glass that is four inches across put some krill in it and place it in the tank at a 45 deg. angle he will go in to eat and can't climb back out

+1 on this advice same thing I did to catch a hitchhiker crab who snacked on the first fish in the tank

Instead of krill though I used a chunk of a jumbo shrimp.

LoJack · 09/04/2008, 04:46 PM

Perfect, I'll give this a try ... Hopefully I can get a good photo of this thing.

bbyatv · 09/05/2008, 10:46 AM

I had a bunch (12+) bad crabs that came with my LR. I had no luck with baiting them or trapping them.

The best way I found is to wait until they have crawled onto a piece of rock that you can take out of the tank with ease.

As soon as they have, reach in and grab the rock. They get scared and slide into a crevice in that rock.

Once the rock is out of the water use a knife or something to remove the crab from the rock.

I managed to get them all over about a 6 month period.

Bruce

09/04/2008, 01:08 PM	#1
LoJack Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thompson, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 595	Found a predatory crab, how do I trap him ... Last night I saw the freakiest thing ever, huge huge black crab. the only thing I've seemed to be able to ID him as, is a xanthid crab. I have had a few small fish dissappear lately ... noticed nips in the tails, but the only other fish inhabitants could not be the culprits. Last night I finally saw it, almost 3 1/2 inches across, jet black, reticulated legs, and huge claws. The claws look like they have teeth within the teeth, bright red eyes. I don't know how I never saw this thing when putting the live rock into the tank, its only 2 months old, so this crab must have been pretty big when I first introduced it to the tank. Anyway, I have 150 lbs of LR and would like to not have to remove it ... how can I trap him? Bait him? remove him? Thanks --Tyler

09/04/2008, 01:53 PM	#2
kzickovich Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Zion Il Posts: 959	find a glass that is four inches across put some krill in it and place it in the tank at a 45 deg. angle he will go in to eat and can't climb back out __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: 90 Gal mixed reef 55 Gallon basement pump up Sump 25 Gal fuge 2 Mp40 DIY led light fixture Bubble King Mini 200 Gen2 skimmer BRS Duel reactor

09/05/2008, 10:46 AM	#5
bbyatv Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Centreville, Virginia Posts: 104	I had a bunch (12+) bad crabs that came with my LR. I had no luck with baiting them or trapping them. The best way I found is to wait until they have crawled onto a piece of rock that you can take out of the tank with ease. As soon as they have, reach in and grab the rock. They get scared and slide into a crevice in that rock. Once the rock is out of the water use a knife or something to remove the crab from the rock. I managed to get them all over about a 6 month period. Bruce __________________ Tank Honors and Awards: https://sites.google.com/site/bbyatv/ Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Mixed Reef

09/04/2008, 04:46 PM	#4
LoJack Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thompson, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 595	Perfect, I'll give this a try ... Hopefully I can get a good photo of this thing.