Getting a crab out of reef tank????Help

Xenia King · 01/04/2007, 12:04 AM

I have seen a strawberry crab in my reef tank for over a year now. I see him every now and then. I have noticed some chunks taken out of my leather corals. Does anyone know a way to get him out of a 125gal fully stocked reef tank?

oxkisses12ox · 01/04/2007, 12:11 AM

they make traps for mantis shrimp... try buying on of those traps at your LFS... it should help...

blot60 · 01/04/2007, 12:38 AM

Oiy vay... Try the meat in a jar trick. Make sure the jar is twice as tall as the crab is wide. Worked for me.

xtm · 01/04/2007, 12:51 AM

If all else fails... Interceptor.

Though Pods and other acro crabs will also get annihilated.

reef2 · 01/04/2007, 12:54 AM

spear it?

Xenia King · 01/04/2007, 01:02 AM

What is an Interceptor?

Sparkss · 01/04/2007, 01:09 AM

Even at high dosages Interceptor is not 100% for killing crabs.. several hitchikers made it through our Interceptor treatments for red bugs a while back.

I agree with reef2, spear it. That is how we have gotten several out of our reef. So long as you can break it's carapace it will eventually die. an LFS near us uses the same method (that is actually where I got the idea from).

Xenia King · 01/04/2007, 01:18 AM

He is hard to find to spear. I wish he was like a frog and would freeze when I shine a flashlight on him. Then I could spear him.

reef2 · 01/04/2007, 01:23 AM

do it at night and put a red piece of plastic over the flashlight they r less likely to run from it.

Xenia King · 01/04/2007, 02:45 AM

Thanks for inspiring me to go for the spear. My wife grabbed the flashlight and I did the spearing. Here is the result.

blot60 · 01/04/2007, 02:53 AM

Good job Thats what I call teamwork.

01/04/2007, 12:04 AM	#1
Xenia King Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 59	Getting a crab out of reef tank????Help I have seen a strawberry crab in my reef tank for over a year now. I see him every now and then. I have noticed some chunks taken out of my leather corals. Does anyone know a way to get him out of a 125gal fully stocked reef tank? __________________ Lets see I have 5 powerheads, I skimmer, I return pump, 1 heater, all pluged in to 120V..... Now would be a good time to stick my hand in the tank. Xenia King! Current Tank Info: 135 reef tank

01/04/2007, 12:11 AM	#2
oxkisses12ox Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Key West Posts: 353	they make traps for mantis shrimp... try buying on of those traps at your LFS... it should help... __________________ 14 Gallon Biocube Plate Coral 2 serpent stars 2 hermits and 4 snails 1 cleaner shrimp 2 false clowns 1 horseshoe crab water : nirates nitrite amonia = 0 PH 8.2 temp 79 calc 400 Current Tank Info: 14 gallon biocube

01/04/2007, 12:38 AM	#3
blot60 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: So Cal Posts: 227	Oiy vay... Try the meat in a jar trick. Make sure the jar is twice as tall as the crab is wide. Worked for me. __________________ There's no way, no way that you came from my loins. Soon as I get home, first thing I'm gonna do is punch yo mamma in da mouth! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed, 30g sump, 8x T5, Octopus DDNW 150,

01/04/2007, 12:51 AM	#4
xtm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Panorama City, CA Posts: 4,703	If all else fails... Interceptor. Though Pods and other acro crabs will also get annihilated. __________________ Function before fashion Current Tank Info: 120g SPS Tank (48x24x24)

01/04/2007, 01:02 AM	#6
Xenia King Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 59	What is an Interceptor? __________________ Lets see I have 5 powerheads, I skimmer, I return pump, 1 heater, all pluged in to 120V..... Now would be a good time to stick my hand in the tank. Xenia King! Current Tank Info: 135 reef tank

01/04/2007, 12:54 AM	#5
reef2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 639	spear it?

01/04/2007, 01:09 AM	#7
Sparkss Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Oakley (94561) Posts: 5,030	Even at high dosages Interceptor is not 100% for killing crabs.. several hitchikers made it through our Interceptor treatments for red bugs a while back. I agree with reef2, spear it. That is how we have gotten several out of our reef. So long as you can break it's carapace it will eventually die. an LFS near us uses the same method (that is actually where I got the idea from). __________________ - Tom Current Tank Info: 380 starfire inwall ,two 150g sump/fuge. Volcano Ca RX, ato, 6' Volcano skimmer. LAIIIs w/400w AquaConnect 14K on IC EBallasts

01/04/2007, 01:18 AM	#8
Xenia King Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 59	He is hard to find to spear. I wish he was like a frog and would freeze when I shine a flashlight on him. Then I could spear him. __________________ Lets see I have 5 powerheads, I skimmer, I return pump, 1 heater, all pluged in to 120V..... Now would be a good time to stick my hand in the tank. Xenia King! Current Tank Info: 135 reef tank

01/04/2007, 01:23 AM	#9
reef2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 639	do it at night and put a red piece of plastic over the flashlight they r less likely to run from it.

01/04/2007, 02:53 AM	#11
blot60 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: So Cal Posts: 227	Good job Thats what I call teamwork. __________________ There's no way, no way that you came from my loins. Soon as I get home, first thing I'm gonna do is punch yo mamma in da mouth! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed, 30g sump, 8x T5, Octopus DDNW 150,