Unable to get Crab

[CyboRob]

First I tried stabbing this guy but he had an escape route in his rock.
Then I've tried baiting him with a bottle and piece of raw prawn with no luck (two nights)
Today I took the rock and dunked it in a 10 gallon tub of water and swished it around a bunch, he didn't come out.

My setup is cycling and is about 4 days old with 50 pounds of cured rock and 20 pounds of base.

The rock he is in must have a nice back cave/s he retreats to when threatened.

Wondering what I can do at this point?

 

[rppvt]

hyper salinate or use iodine

 

[CyboRob]

Rppvt can you give a quick step by step on these two methods please?

Going to have to relocate this guy now also, rescaped that side of the tank since he was hanging out in the biggest rock on the bottom.

On the plus side the rescape looks better than it did.

 

[alexb518]

hypo is running specific gravity at 1.009 and a max of 1.010. i belive what he means by using iodine is to simply go to your LFS and purchase iodine supplement (by kent or another) and over dose on it. it's a natural element in sea water, but when there is too much, it is very toxic. also, it's easy to get rid of after. two other things to try. leave that rock in a bucket of fresh water. i would do this as a last resort, however. also, try putting a mesh net with strings on the four corners flat on the bottom of your tank (kinda like an upside down parachute)...take a piece of food and wrap it in another piece of mesh so your other inhabitants can't eat it and attach it to your net. then just hang string out of the tank and pull him up when you see him in the net.

 

[jmait769]

Another easier way, since you can take the rock out, is to locate the hole he is in. Remove the rock and pour some seltzer water (Carbonated water - plain) into the hole and watch him fly out! You can use a turkey baster also. I’ve removed two mantis shrimp and a few gorilla crabs from my rock this way. No damage to the rock as it should only be out of the tank a few minutes.

Good luck

Jay

 

[cowboyswife]

Did you dunk the water in freshwater? That worked for us. We removed like 15 crabs and 7 mantis shrimp like that.

 

[coyoteseven]

Second the seltzer water or club soda injection for critter ejection. I had 2 mantis and a gorilla crab shoot out of the same hole in my TBS when I first got it by using club soda. Kinda fun to watch, too.

 

[CyboRob]

Thanks for all the great tips folks.
Will pick one for tommorrow and give it another whirl.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9789606#post9789606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cowboyswife
Did you dunk the water in freshwater? That worked for us. We removed like 15 crabs and 7 mantis shrimp like that.

Yes did that, complete dunk.

 

[cowboyswife]

That must one one stubborn crab! Good luck getting the little bugger out of there!

 

[CyboRob]

Got him!!! Yes he was very stubborn and had a great hidding place.

Squirted him twice real good with a turkey baster full of club soda ..... but he did not come all the way out, just to the front edge.

Had to pour about half of a 2 liter bottle right into the hole before he crawled out all the way.

Rinsed the hole out with a gallon of mixed saltwater then back into the tank. Very happy now!

 

[jmait769]

Great! Glad it worked out for you.:thumbsup: Interesting looking crab! I put mine in the fuge and now he “Chaeto” surfs!

Jay

 

[cowboyswife]

Congrats on nabbing him! Its really neat/mean looking!