Popping Crab

[borillion_star]

Hey guys wondering if someone could help identify a crab I have in my tank,
I haven't been able to catch him but he sounds similar to a pistol shrimp:eek1:.

I can't get him out without taking the tank's rock work apart.

Any ideas as to what he is?

 

[LittlePuff]

Have you seen it? What does it look like?

 

[borillion_star]

its looks like sandy cream colored with black and brown colored body spots. Other that that I haven't seen enough of him, just the side and his legs.

 

[LittlePuff]

Has anyone disappeared?

 

[borillion_star]

My 3 inch coral beauty, but Im not sure if it was because of him. Then again it may have been.

 

[LittlePuff]

Try to get a better look and see if it might be a mantis.

 

[borillion_star]

Just did last night, its a small crab the size of a quarter. He doesnt have pointy claws as far as I can see. I tried to net him but he was to quick

 

[Dratini]

Look for coloration of the tips of the claws. Black is pretty much always bad. You should try to jar trap him anyway just to get some good pictures and a positive ID.

 

[BEASTIEPENDENT]

Hi

What do You mean by "crab" – in the beginning You asked for IDing a popping crab, but pistol shrimps are shrimp. Does it look like these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab ?

Without proper macro pictures of claws and body an ID probably won't succeed.

Many primary algae eating crabs have black finger tips either so this is not a characteristic feature really. If it is spoon shaped or sharp is more relevant - but with a crab that size You won't see this without real macro lens or magnifying glass.

 

[borillion_star]

LOL yes he defiantly one of those, I know the difference between that and a shrimp.

He has pointy toothy claws that are long and narrow. I know I have to get a pic to get an ID but as soon I can get him out or get a pic I will. Unfortunately he isn't very forthcoming or cooperative

 

[borillion_star]

I got him out, he is a standard hairy gorilla crab. There is something else in there, maybe a pistol shrimp or heaven forbid a mantis :|

 

[BEASTIEPENDENT]

Do you hear the snapping during the day or also in the night? Mantis shrimps are diurnal, pistol shrimps may be active day and night.

Hm, under the name "hairy gorilla crab" I found Xanthid crabs (from which many are algaeeaters but many are good predators) and also Pilumnus vespertilio, which is a different super family – these are quite predatory crabs though and You might want to set in the sump.

 

[borillion_star]

I gave him to the LFS to take care of in their Crab tank No body was harmed.

 

[borillion_star]

I have only heard the popping at night when the lights go off, Im not sure what it is or how to go about capturing it. Do traps exist for Mantis and or Pistol shrimp?

Whats to do next?

 

[borillion_star]

I guess Ill try the soda bottle, will shrimp work?

 

[BEASTIEPENDENT]

Try it. Mussel worked in catching another pistol shrimp I read… Good luck!