Sally Lightfoot Crabs (Percnon gibbesi) not reef safe

[rharr21]

WARNING! :mad2:

If you like your fish do not purchase a Sally Lightfoot Crab! Do your research.

I've had a Sally Lightfoot Crab in my reef for several months. My LFS told me they were reef safe and only ate algae. During the time its been in my tank, I've had several healthy fish disappear. Well this morning I was watching the tank and saw the Sally lightfoot catch and kill my fox face rabbit fish. The rabbit fish was hiding against a rock and the crab came around the side of the rock and grabbed it. There was nothing I could do to save the fish because the crab pulled it into the live rock.

Now I have the fun task of catching the crab, so I can return it to the LFS.

If it was not my fault for putting the crab in my tank, I would kill it.

 

[650-IS350]

They were never reefsafe.. in the wild they are very agressive and get large... UNKNOWLEDGABLE or badpracticing LFS will SELL these little devils..

 

[rharr21]

Its like torture, he is running around the tank with the remains of the rabbit fish and I can't catch it.

 

[650-IS350]

Use the bottle technique... when he's done with the remains ( or use forceps or tongs to pluck it out.... )..

Place some food in the bottle, lay the bottle up on a rock, the crab smell food, climbs in but wont be able to climb out... perfect trap...

 

[seastar12]

poor rabbit fish

 

[graveyardworm]

As juveniles they are primarily algae eaters/scavengers, but as you've found out when they get larger they also get more aggressive and can take down decent sized fish.

 

[rharr21]

I tried very hard to trap the crab so I could take him back to the LFS. I tried to grab him with the long forceps (he lost several legs in the past three weeks. He became very elusive and hid in the shadows. Unfortunately, his number was up today. With one quick jab of the long green tongs, I crunched him. My fish, hermits, and brittle stars had crab for dinner.

 

[blumarlin]

There are many lfs & online venders thats sell sallys as part of a "clean up crew" & tell you nothing else. I am "one of those" who made a purchase b4 researching. Added 2 (one killed the other thank goodness!). The other is now almost 4" across. A few weeks ago my maroon & clarki had shredded fins & the clarki had a nip taken out of his tail (they have been in the tank for months, live on either side of the tank w/ their own nems & get along fine). I have watched the sally hang uner a ledge, just waiting, & lunge her pinchers @ my 6line wrass as has swam by, so I know it is just a matter of time.

I have tried everything to get this little devil out of my tank! I have baited w/ fishing line, tried to net her. I tried the bottle trap & did catch a couple of hemits & my baby cleaner shrimp, but no sally. A smart little devil she is!