Unknown Crab

[cyberbaba]

I RECENTLY SET UP MY TANK WITH LIVE ROCK AND APPARENTLY I HAVE A HITCHHIKER... I RECENTLY SPOTTED A CRAB AFTER 5 DAYS . I AM NOT SURE WHAT TYPE OF CRAB BUT HE DOES NOT COME OUT IN THE DAY TIME AND IS ALWAYS HIDING .. SO I AM UNABLE TO GET A PIC. BUT WHAT I SAW HE LOOKED QUITE HAIRY AND HE WAS DARK COLORED. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS CRAB WILL ATTACK AND KILL MY EMERALD CRAB THAT I RECENTLY PURCHASED.
HOW DO I CATCH A NOCTURNAL CRAB.. ANY GOOD IDEAS. I HAVE A ABOUT 35 POUNDS OF LIVE ROCK IN A 45 GALLON TANK WITH 3 YELLOW TAIL DAMSEL FISH AND ONE EMERALD CRAB...
PLEASE ADVISE.
AR

 

[charlesr1958]

Given the frequency of their being found as hitch hikers, the odds are is that its a member of the Xanthidae. While small it probably poses no real threat to anything although with crabs being omnivores, it is probably not doing good things to the other life on/in the rock.

To remove such crabs, I simply find its "home" and then remove that rock from the tank and dig the little bugger out and return the rock.

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html

Chuck