Killer Arrow Crab...

[stricknine]

I recently added a cleaning crew (thats all thats in there) to my new tank including an arrow crab. Been in there for about two weeks with no problems but last night I added two skunk cleaners, one was very small. This morning I found the arrow making breakfast out of the baby shrimp.

If the crab is going to kill and eat everything we add (aside from worms, feather dusters which we knew) he will have to go. Is this the start of a killer crab or is it the fact the shrimp was too small?

THANKS!

 

[bpoore89]

I went into That Fish Place one day with my girlfriend, and noticed an Arrow in the display eating an o. clown the same size or slightly larger than he was. The guy maintaining the tank was livid and freaking out

 

[griss]

It could very well be that the shrimp died from another cause that the Arrow Crab was simply eating the carrion.

 

[AquaReeferMan]

I dont know, IME arrow crabs are nasty towards other inverts. Whenever I see them in our tanks they are trying to kill/eat something. I really dont trust any crab though.

 

[stricknine]

Im torn between trying him out a little longer or cutting my losses and finding him another home. I love the look of the arrow and they are always entertaining to watch but with a 24 gallon every fish I put in will be small, and I'd hate to have it eat all corals/mushrooms/etc i add as well as all the fish. Again, Its hard for me to know if it was the crab that was the cause or just a bad shrimp. The shrimp was not really moving a lot over the 12 hours we had him.

 

[sentencedme]

arrows will eat your shrimp, small fish, and crusteacians!!!!!!!!!!! Whatever it can catch....

Hope this helps

 

[1BADREEF]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13020038#post13020038 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sentencedme
arrows will eat your shrimp, small fish, and crusteacians!!!!!!!!!!! Whatever it can catch....

Hope this helps

+1....I love the aroow crabs, but I caught mine eating snails and praying on some small fish at night.

 

[jarrett]

my arrow crab ate a 6 inch naso tang, reagle tang and yellow tang i would never get anothe one again

 

[steri]

I've had arrows for a while now. I really think your shrimp died of something else first and the arrow was cleaning up the remains.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with other posters, Arrows can eat small and very slow creatures sometimes, such as a snail, but shrimp are usually too fast for them. I think your shrimp died first, and then was eaten. Just my opinion.

Arrows are pretty slow IMO.

 

[RyanMcLaughlin]

Arrow crabs are cool looking dudes but they are quite aggressive. They may look rather slow during the day just cruising but you would be suprised at how fast they can go when they are hunting prey. I would target feed mine and he would sprint across the tank to get it. Then one day he ate my cleaner shrimp so that was the end of him. Took him back to the lfs.

 

[stricknine]

Judging from the general consensus from the replys above I should take him back before he kills everything. Is there another cleaner anyone can suggest to replace him as he does do a heck of a job, not to mention the most amusing thing in my tank.

So far i have 8 hermits, 10 snails (3 types), the arrow, emerald crab(which I never see), and 1 cleaner shrimp left(i will replace the dead one)

THANKS!

 

[RyanMcLaughlin]

All crabs are oportunistic. Some more than others. The only crab ive had in a reef that hasnt bothered anything is a spider decorator crab. They are very cool looking and you can give them little ribbons and stuff to glue onto themselves. IDK how good of a cleaner they are but they are cool looking. Just be careful w/ zoas and mushrooms cuz they will pluck them and use them as decoration. If it lives though, good way to propogate.

 

[stricknine]

Thanks all for the tips (somewhat mixed) but I replaced the lost baby cleaner with a healthy one and all looks good for the last few hours. arrow seems to be a bit territorial when the shrimp get too close but is keeping to himself otherwise. Will be watching closely and let all who may be interested know on the status. One of the LFS in town is stellar and will take the arrow if problems arise. Always nice to have a great LFS!