sally lightfoot crabs and "grabbers"

tjhoya · 02/14/2006, 04:42 PM

Hi
Guy at LFS sold me 2 sally lightfoot crabs to help with a feathery red macroalgae bloom in my reef tank. They're doing wonderfully, but I've read nothing but bad press about these crabs with anenomae and soft coral. They are fast as $%#@.

Any advice on how to catch them?

Any idea where to buy a "grabber" that is like a "basket" or 4 fingered claw to catch these dudes with?

Thanks for any help.
TJ

dhoch · 02/14/2006, 04:49 PM

I don't know what else you have in your reef, but a makeshift trap usually works very well for most crabs (i.e. a soda bottle)... put food in at bottom and wait....

Heck I can even catch most of my smaller fish this way.

Dave

Whaledriver · 02/14/2006, 04:53 PM

Wait and see how they deal with their neibors. They might be ok. Keep them well fed and dont keep fish that are smaller than them in the tank. If you have trouble try to trade them in at the shop you got them from for something else.

glass tube with food in the bottom is a great trap.

02/14/2006, 04:42 PM	#1
tjhoya Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 11	sally lightfoot crabs and "grabbers" Hi Guy at LFS sold me 2 sally lightfoot crabs to help with a feathery red macroalgae bloom in my reef tank. They're doing wonderfully, but I've read nothing but bad press about these crabs with anenomae and soft coral. They are fast as $%#@. Any advice on how to catch them? Any idea where to buy a "grabber" that is like a "basket" or 4 fingered claw to catch these dudes with? Thanks for any help. TJ

02/14/2006, 04:49 PM	#2
dhoch Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,762	I don't know what else you have in your reef, but a makeshift trap usually works very well for most crabs (i.e. a soda bottle)... put food in at bottom and wait.... Heck I can even catch most of my smaller fish this way. Dave __________________ Check out my tanks website... click the red box above my post Current Tank Info: 180 gal Acrylic, 29 gal refugium, 40 gal sump, Mag 18 -> 2 Sea Swirls, Tunze 6100, 8 x 80W overdriven T5 Lights, ASM G4 skimmer

02/14/2006, 04:53 PM	#3
Whaledriver Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,811	Wait and see how they deal with their neibors. They might be ok. Keep them well fed and dont keep fish that are smaller than them in the tank. If you have trouble try to trade them in at the shop you got them from for something else. glass tube with food in the bottom is a great trap.