Cancer antennarius

Riptide10 · 04/16/2006, 09:42 PM

http://www.calacademy.org/RESEARCH/i...ntennarius.htm

I have one of these in my reef tank. He's a good 2.5" in size.

Do I need to be worried?

I have a couple full grown scarlet cleaners and a full grown blood. Also hermits and some clowns and a few other fish.

I have located his burrow and if need be I can reach in (with gloves ofcourse) and forcefully pull him out of there or trap him. I don't want to bother with it unless it's really necessary.

nemofish2217 · 04/16/2006, 09:49 PM

sure looks mean... the only way i would probably get him out is by sticking a m-80 in his hole....

LeslieH · 04/17/2006, 12:02 AM

They prefer to eat other crustaceans & molluscs and the bigger they get the bigger the animals they can catch. Maybe not such a good critter for your tank. Do you have a cold water reef? I'm surprised to hear he's living in a tropical tank.

Riptide10 · 04/17/2006, 06:47 AM

Nope not a cold reef. But he looks just like that picture - with the black tipped pincers and red carapace. He's about the size of a full grown mithrax right now.

I just don't want to go to the trouble of pulling him out unless I have to. Any ideas on how long these buggers live for? And if I keep him fed (toss a few shrimp pellets in there from time to time) will he be less likely to attack my other animals?

LeslieH · 04/17/2006, 09:36 AM

I wonder how did a cold water crab get into your tank? If it came in on your live rock it's a warm water look-alike and your mention of black tipped pincers means it might be a xanthid. Either way, it will probably live for several years. Crustaceans will eat continuously if food is available. A few shrimp pellets may not be enough for it. If it really is an antennarius it will grow to about 7" You can just keep an eye on him & yank him if any of your other animals look injured or disappear.

Riptide10 · 04/17/2006, 11:07 AM

I'm not sure but he definitely looks like that picture. Red carapace and black tipped pincers. I suppose that he could be a look a like species and not exactly what I thought he was. However, the situation (as you pointe out Leslie) stays the same either way.

What would you guys do? Should I leave him in there and give him a try? Or should I go after him when I change water next weekend?

Tough decision. lol

04/16/2006, 09:42 PM	#1
Riptide10 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Billings, MT. Posts: 500	Cancer antennarius http://www.calacademy.org/RESEARCH/i...ntennarius.htm I have one of these in my reef tank. He's a good 2.5" in size. Do I need to be worried? I have a couple full grown scarlet cleaners and a full grown blood. Also hermits and some clowns and a few other fish. I have located his burrow and if need be I can reach in (with gloves ofcourse) and forcefully pull him out of there or trap him. I don't want to bother with it unless it's really necessary.

04/17/2006, 12:02 AM	#3
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	They prefer to eat other crustaceans & molluscs and the bigger they get the bigger the animals they can catch. Maybe not such a good critter for your tank. Do you have a cold water reef? I'm surprised to hear he's living in a tropical tank. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

04/17/2006, 09:36 AM	#5
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	I wonder how did a cold water crab get into your tank? If it came in on your live rock it's a warm water look-alike and your mention of black tipped pincers means it might be a xanthid. Either way, it will probably live for several years. Crustaceans will eat continuously if food is available. A few shrimp pellets may not be enough for it. If it really is an antennarius it will grow to about 7" You can just keep an eye on him & yank him if any of your other animals look injured or disappear. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

04/16/2006, 09:49 PM	#2
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	sure looks mean... the only way i would probably get him out is by sticking a m-80 in his hole....

04/17/2006, 06:47 AM	#4
Riptide10 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Billings, MT. Posts: 500	Nope not a cold reef. But he looks just like that picture - with the black tipped pincers and red carapace. He's about the size of a full grown mithrax right now. I just don't want to go to the trouble of pulling him out unless I have to. Any ideas on how long these buggers live for? And if I keep him fed (toss a few shrimp pellets in there from time to time) will he be less likely to attack my other animals?

04/17/2006, 11:07 AM	#6
Riptide10 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Billings, MT. Posts: 500	I'm not sure but he definitely looks like that picture. Red carapace and black tipped pincers. I suppose that he could be a look a like species and not exactly what I thought he was. However, the situation (as you pointe out Leslie) stays the same either way. What would you guys do? Should I leave him in there and give him a try? Or should I go after him when I change water next weekend? Tough decision. lol