I've got crabs! help!

[Parrotfish100]

Lol, I have some pest crabs. Any tips on how to get rid of them without completely deconstructing my rock?

 

[starmanres]

I had success by taking a silverside and putting it into a tall drinking glass. I pinned it to the bottom with a small piece of live rock and leaned it against my rockface. Mine was a large plastic glass.

The crabs crawl in, usually at night, and the sides of the glass are slippery so their little peg legs can't get any traction.

I caught 3 over a two night hunt in my tank.

 

[Parrotfish100]

I had success by taking a silverside and putting it into a tall drinking glass. I pinned it to the bottom with a small piece of live rock and leaned it against my rockface. Mine was a large plastic glass.

The crabs crawl in, usually at night, and the sides of the glass are slippery so their little peg legs can't get any traction.

I caught 3 over a two night hunt in my tank.

That sounds great, I'll try that ASAP. Thanks!

 

[SwampyBill]

Are they furry hideous looking gorilla crabs, or porcelain crabs? #1=bad; #2=good & reef safe.

 

[OneReef]

I had success by taking a silverside and putting it into a tall drinking glass. I pinned it to the bottom with a small piece of live rock and leaned it against my rockface. Mine was a large plastic glass.

The crabs crawl in, usually at night, and the sides of the glass are slippery so their little peg legs can't get any traction.

I caught 3 over a two night hunt in my tank.

This works great. I have done it many times over the years and caught alot of rogue crabs.

 

[Parrotfish100]

Are they furry hideous looking gorilla crabs, or porcelain crabs? #1=bad; #2=good & reef safe.

Furry hideous-looking gorilla crabs:hmm3:

 

[hoffy02]

Shave one side, light the other side on fire and ..... Oh wait.. Nevermind

 

[Parrotfish100]

My LFS didn't have silversides but I went to the grocery store and asked for a single raw shrimp. The guy kinda looked at me weird, wrapped one up and gave it to me free lol

I just put it in the tank, turned off the lights and I already got one within 20 mins! I turned on the lights and saw 2 more crabs cringe back into the rock. I'll see if I get those little buggers tomorrow morning. And good god are they ugly! O-o

 

[OneReef]

I just use pellet food in my glasses

 

[Parrotfish100]

That's the night's catch. Trying again tonight cause I saw at least 2 others that didn't take the bait, or the other glass I set up. God these things are creepy looking:hmm3:

 

[DZs]

Is that a teddy bear crab?

 

[nissannx]

it is a teddy bear crab

 

[DZs]

Thanks, I wasn't sure if it was or not.

Sure doesn't look cute and cuddly. LOL I think I'll stick to stuffed teddy bears.

 

[Parrotfish100]

Didn't get it in the picture but they have nasty little white claws too

 

[DZs]

And people say black claws are bad. Guess it depends on the critter.... LOL

 

[reefaroni]

holy freaking devil crab!

starmanres - that is an awesome trap idea, I'll have to try it tonight... I keep seeing the striped legs of one hiding my rocks and I have no idea what kind he is. Probably needs to go

 

[Parrotfish100]

And people say black claws are bad. Guess it depends on the critter.... LOL

Yup, night #2 I caught 3 black-claws

You can barely see the tiny one in the back. This time I set up 3 traps, one on each of my base rocks. One or 2 more nights and I should be rid of these things.

 

[DZs]

You are one fine crab catcher!

The other day, I found a molt from a 1/2" baby orange crab with black claws. Must have snuck in on a 21lb rock I added to my tank recently. Which now has me worried since I have pom poms and sexy shrimps in my tank.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

wow, i have never used base rock, but outta 100+ lbs i never got a crab hitchhiking.

 

[nissannx]

bad luck on bad hitchhiking crabs