huge stone crab spotted [video]

cdouble · 10/16/2013, 04:15 PM

A couple days ago I noticed a small stone crab had taken hostage of one of the bigger snails in the tank. It waited for the snail to try to make a break for it and cut him up with his claws. He's been eating escargot in his cave for a couple days now. He's been relatively low key since finishing off the snail but I was perusing the tank earlier today when I noticed his big brother! This thing is about ~3 inches wide. I was able to catch him on video while I was trying to get some nets in an attempt to catch him. He got eerily close to my maxi mini anemone which was just being tortured by a raccoonface butterflyfish that we had in the tank to take care of some aiptasia.

I guess I'll be trying my best crab traps soon. Good thing it's stone crab season again!

Sugar Magnolia · 10/16/2013, 04:59 PM

Oh Yes, definitely a species of xanthid. Use a tall, smooth sided glass baited with a chunk of raw seafood. Tilt it against the rock where you saw the crab. Xanthids are nocturnal...it'll crawl in for the feast but won't be able to climb back out.

Cymonous · 10/16/2013, 05:09 PM

Wow, that sucker is big.

necessary_evil · 10/16/2013, 05:16 PM

Sweet, thats awesome! Well awesome looking at least

JRR1285 · 10/16/2013, 05:24 PM

You should put it in a small tank or keep it in the refugium once you catch it.

Mark9 · 10/16/2013, 05:47 PM

Man, that thing looks ominous.

cdouble · 10/16/2013, 05:57 PM

Yeah, currently my refugium is my prison. I have an arrowcrab that took a nibble at the maxi mini in the video. Now these stone crabs (remember this big boi has a little brother) can easily eat everything in the tank if they chose to.

I'm going to try the glass trick first. (Need to buy bait tomorrow). If the glass doesn't work on night one, I'm going to try fishing it out. If he's a stone crab, he should act like one so maybe a crab trap might work... or a treble hook with some meat.

This guy better stay away from the maxi!

10/16/2013, 04:15 PM	#1
cdouble Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Miami Posts: 119	huge stone crab spotted [video] A couple days ago I noticed a small stone crab had taken hostage of one of the bigger snails in the tank. It waited for the snail to try to make a break for it and cut him up with his claws. He's been eating escargot in his cave for a couple days now. He's been relatively low key since finishing off the snail but I was perusing the tank earlier today when I noticed his big brother! This thing is about ~3 inches wide. I was able to catch him on video while I was trying to get some nets in an attempt to catch him. He got eerily close to my maxi mini anemone which was just being tortured by a raccoonface butterflyfish that we had in the tank to take care of some aiptasia. I guess I'll be trying my best crab traps soon. Good thing it's stone crab season again!

10/16/2013, 04:59 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Oh Yes, definitely a species of xanthid. Use a tall, smooth sided glass baited with a chunk of raw seafood. Tilt it against the rock where you saw the crab. Xanthids are nocturnal...it'll crawl in for the feast but won't be able to climb back out. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

10/16/2013, 05:09 PM	#3
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	Wow, that sucker is big. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

10/16/2013, 05:16 PM	#4
necessary_evil Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Saint Petersburg, FL Posts: 136	Sweet, thats awesome! Well awesome looking at least

10/16/2013, 05:24 PM	#5
JRR1285 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Long Island Posts: 450	You should put it in a small tank or keep it in the refugium once you catch it.

10/16/2013, 05:47 PM	#6
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	Man, that thing looks ominous.

10/16/2013, 05:57 PM	#7
cdouble Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Miami Posts: 119	Yeah, currently my refugium is my prison. I have an arrowcrab that took a nibble at the maxi mini in the video. Now these stone crabs (remember this big boi has a little brother) can easily eat everything in the tank if they chose to. I'm going to try the glass trick first. (Need to buy bait tomorrow). If the glass doesn't work on night one, I'm going to try fishing it out. If he's a stone crab, he should act like one so maybe a crab trap might work... or a treble hook with some meat. This guy better stay away from the maxi!