Big Crab

[starmanres]

I was lights out feeding my bubbles tonight and saw this huge crab hanging out under the LR. He must be a good 4"x4" and with 2" black tipped claws. He was smooth but has bright red eyes.

Very skittish to light so I doubt I could get any type of picture of him. I have two emerald crabs that have been in the tank for over a year and are not much bigger than a half dollar plus they do not have bright red eyes.

I haven't added anything other than a good sized Sailfin Tang over the past few months but he came up missing two days after I introduced him. Maybe just a coincidence but maybe not now.

Is this something I should work to trap and any suggestions on how to get this guy? I would have to totally break down my rock face to get at where he was made his home.

Thanks in advance!

Robert

 

[Blown 346]

I too have your exct same problem with a crab of about that size, I have lost a yellow tang to it.
A crab that large can take down a decent sized fish, especially since crabs are hunters at night, and a resting fish wont no what hit it.

I would set up a trap, try using the inverted bottle method with some meaty food.

 

[johnb0184]

try some silverside in a tilted glass near his home. When you catch him be sure to post pic, sounds cool looking.

 

[PupChow]

Yikes! I think I have seen a guy like you are describing at a LFS's LR holding bin... looks mean and yummy.

 

[XeniaMania]

I've recently grown fond of fresh water dipping my live rocks. Whenever I suspect a vermin in one, I just take it out, soak it in the coldest, tappest water I can find. Within a min, everything's flying out of that rock...

 

[catdoc]

I had a smaller version of what sounds like the same crab. I tried for over a year to catch him, finally skewered him with a kabob stick in desperation! I thought for sure that'd do him in but he showed up a few months later with a big crease down his carapace from his battle wound. I lured him out with a piece of shrimp after lights-out (and a flashlight to see by!) He was also in a rock that was about 30 lbs and was the base for my rockwork. That time, I used hemostats and pulled him apart to get him out. It's amazing how tight they'll hold on to the rock--they'll lose legs before they let go! I'd tried the tipped glass with bait, but he never went for it.

 

[starmanres]

Caught It!

Caught It!

Using the suggested method I was able to catch Mr. or Ms. Crab.

I am posting pictures of him for I.D. and would like to know if she/he is good or bad and I should put him in the Refugium or just offer him to the LFS?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Robert

 

[Nano_reeflover]

Watch out it looks like he wants to eat you

 

[XeniaMania]

Evil looking crab!

 

[starmanres]

I have her/him in a bowl on my counter in saltwater but how long can it hang out there without dying? I would prefer not to kill it if I don't have to.

Robert

 

[mystikdragon7]

I kept a huge crab that I cought in a tiny cup for about three weeks. I would change its water in the cup about every four days, I just took it out of my main tank.

Don't know what type of crab it is but it's definetly not a good one. Any crab that hides, blends in with the rocks, and only comes out after lights out are bad.

 

[nccmike]

put him in your overflow or sump.

 

[OldmillXxX]

Which method did you go with to catch him? A couple were suggested...

 

[starmanres]

I placed a large, clear, plastic drinking glass with several silversides and a small piece of Live Rock in the bottom. I tipped the glass in the tank at about a 45 degree angle up against a large piece of live rock. This allowed the crabs to crawl into the glass and the angle used with the slippery sides, kept them from crawling out.

After day two, even the fish were swimming in and out of the glass unafraid. I also didn't feed the fish while the glass was in the tank thinking that the crab would get hungry enough to go for the bait.

I ended up catching two hermit crabs and the large crab I was looking for.

Robert

 

[Hoggn]

I don't know what type of crab that is but it sure scared the heck out of my 3 year old son who seen it and went running away yelling...

 

[starmanres]

My wife and kids are saying the same thing. It looks really mean but doesn't really act like it when I get close to it. It just curls up in a little ball when humans are close. I really expected it to act like a Coral Banded Shrimp with all claws and attitude.

I am a little concerned with putting in my sump as my overflows fall into a bio chamber through a sponge (Oceanic II) and it won't get any food in the sump. I guess I could feed it like I do with my BTA.

My refugium is also behind two sponges but the only living things in there are gobs of copapods. I doubt it would bother them too much but again I would have to toss a silverside or two in there for it.

I am concerned that no one thinks this guy is a good crab so I really don't know if I want it in my system anywhere.

It may be worth a trip to the LFS and let him have it. At least I would know it would never end up back in my system.

Robert