Do I wait to find the crab, or...

[hops523]

Last week I found a hitchhiker crab in my tank, and I was told it may not be a good crab, and can kill coral, fish and inverts, because it has pointed claws. So obviously I need to remove it, and I am trying to, but I cant find this guy. I didnt want to move around the live rock, and aggravate my coral and fish. This morning I found my frogspawn coral on the sand bed, instead of in the rock I put it on. I dont know if the crab maybe knocked it over, or it just simply fell out.

This weekend I really wanted to add some coral, or a cleaner shrimp, but I feel obligated to get this crab out of the tank before I add anything. But it could be a very long time before I see him again (I had the tank set up for a couple months, and just found the crab one week ago). Up until now I havent noticed any trouble caused because of this crab. What do you think I should do?

 

[hwynboy]

It's no use tearing your tank down for one crab. It would take forever to get him. I would leave it alone, the frogspawn had nothing to do with the crab in all likelihood. If you can get the crab out, assuming he is hairy or has red eyes I would ban him to the sump.

 

[hops523]

Ok so your saying to just get him whenever he comes out again, and not go looking for him? He is somewhat hairy, and I dont know if he has red eyes or not. So do you think I would be ok adding some coral, or a cleaner shrimp?

 

[Hingeback]

I place a well rinsed glass almost vertical, just a slight angle with some tasty food in it. Cockle, mussle, lance fish something like that works well.
I place it in tank last thing at night and near to where you have seen crab. once in the crabs cant get back out.
I have caught a few crabs with this method. Its worth a try

best wishes

 

[EllieSuz]

Hingeback's solution really works. Lean a tall glass or jar against the rock at an angle with bait in the bottom. They can't scramble up the glass.

 

[lvreefer]

Glass method vote here too. Don't clean the glass with any cleaner and make sure its sterile. This is a great method to get rid of all kinds unwanted cleaners or hitchhikers!

 

[hops523]

Alright I think I will try this method. But how do I make the glass sterile? Oh and what if something else gets caught in the cup with the unwanted crab?Such as hermit crabs and shrimp.

 

[Hop]

Rinsing a glass out and wiping it down should be fine. As far as if you catch something you want to keep you put it back in the tank.

 

[hops523]

Alright, yeah I didnt want to catch something I added to the tank, and the hitchiker crab at the same time haha.