Somebody is eating my Brittle's Legs

[JJP161]

Ok last week all 3 of my brittle stars were just fine and ate small pieces of shrimp. I did notice that one of the stars had lost part of it's leg. The next day when I came home I found the same one with no legs and just his body with a couple of stubs. I thought he was dead, so when I tried to get him out he pulled himself under a rock.

"Mr. nubs" is still alive and whenever I see him and think he is dead he pulls himself under a rock. Well today I noticed that one of my other Brittle's is now missing part of a leg...

Oddly enough we have also found a couple of baby "brittle stars" in the last few days. Look just like the regular size only much smaller, the size of a nickel to a quarter and only 4 legs.

I do have a possible mantis shrimp. So what should I do and who is my "leg" thief? Thank-you

Joe

 

[docklink]

I'd be more suspicious of crab picking pieces than a mantis. A mantis would more likely whack the thing into bits. Plus, I believe mantis will concentrate on small crustacea until there aren't any left to hunt. Just my 2-cents. Others?

 

[figuerres]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12364254#post12364254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by docklink
I'd be more suspicious of crab picking pieces than a mantis. A mantis would more likely whack the thing into bits. Plus, I believe mantis will concentrate on small crustacea until there aren't any left to hunt. Just my 2-cents. Others?

setup a holding tank for the stars - or put them in a fuge if you have one.

then start going hunting for some gorilla crabs or stone crabs...

I have even seen them eat a cucumber! they will attack anything.

 

[JJP161]

Well that kind of makes sense...So would this be a Gorilla Crab or a Decorator Crab. Whatever they are I have 2 of them. Sorry for the really bad picture.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/182435IMG_0093e.jpg

 

[Shuzu]

Thats a Gorilla Crab. Better catch him!!!

 

[figuerres]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12368248#post12368248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JJP161
Well that kind of makes sense...So would this be a Gorilla Crab or a Decorator Crab. Whatever they are I have 2 of them. Sorry for the really bad picture.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/182435IMG_0093e.jpg

that's for sure a gorrila crab.... get him out.

By the way I have never heard of a deco. crab taking arms off of a star fish.

they go after things that "stay put" to hide them.

 

[JJP161]

Thank-you everyone I was starting wonder what was happening. I have 2 of them in there, unless one is my porcelain crab I haven't seen for a while. The one is smaller, white and I don't think as hairy. He is a lot harder to spot. Also I have suspected a mantis for a while, would these guys make the clicking noises? and go after the hermits? Ok, so what is the best way to catch them? Thank-you

Joe

 

[JuzDuky]

Make a crab trap

Make a crab trap

Richard has directions for a homemade crab or mantis trap on his website. I have used this with pretty good success. Use raw shrimp as bait inside the bottle and wait for the crap to enter then remove.

Happy hunting!

 

[figuerres]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12370290#post12370290 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JJP161
Thank-you everyone I was starting wonder what was happening. I have 2 of them in there, unless one is my porcelain crab I haven't seen for a while. The one is smaller, white and I don't think as hairy. He is a lot harder to spot. Also I have suspected a mantis for a while, would these guys make the clicking noises? and go after the hermits? Ok, so what is the best way to catch them? Thank-you

Joe

Click / PoP sounds may be a Mantis or a Pistol Shrimp.

I have had a Pistol for about 4-5 years and only seen him about 2 times when I had to move the tank and pulled all the rock out

but I hear him at least weekly by the loud POP he makes.
way lound for as small as he is.

 

[divemonster]

very important!

very important!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12367274#post12367274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by figuerres
setup a holding tank for the stars - or put them in a fuge if you have one.

then start going hunting for some gorilla crabs or stone crabs...

I have even seen them eat a cucumber! they will attack anything.

Denny, I found this post of yours about gorilla and stone crabs. There was a rather large stone crab that attacked and ate one of my sea cucumbers. :furious:

these predator crabs are not to be taken lightly. Do consider removing them before removing any mantis shrimp you may find. They are hogs and will kill/eat most anything.

 

[figuerres]

Re: very important!

Re: very important!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13077692#post13077692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by divemonster
Denny, I found this post of yours about gorilla and stone crabs. There was a rather large stone crab that attacked and ate one of my sea cucumbers. :furious:

these predator crabs are not to be taken lightly. Do consider removing them before removing any mantis shrimp you may find. They are hogs and will kill/eat most anything.

Yep they are like little tanks that can take on anything...