caught a crab, sort of

[Ryan22]

So I was checking out my tank yesterday while the lights were off, and I spotted a little black crab with red eyes peeking out of a piece of live rock. So I tried to catch him in a net, but he just went further into the tank, so I pulled out the piece of rock. Now I can't get it to come out of the rock. I tried to scare it out of the hole by poking at it with a piece of wire, and I tried putting the rock in fresh water, hoping it would come out on it's own to get away from the fresh water. After a few hours of that it was still in the rock and I had to go to bed, so I stuck the rock into my sump, I figured that would be where I sent it once I caught it anyway. I tried to check this site for ideas yesterday while I was home, but of course my internet connection was down. So I'm at work now trying to come up with a plan of attack you rid my tank of the snail killer! Any suggestions would be great, or if you just want to point me in the direction of a good tread about it, that would work too. My searches so far have been fairly frustrating.

TIA,

 

[Reefguide]

How about leaving the rock out of the water? My guess is that he'll venture off looking for water eventually. Try to set up a little pen of sorts and hopefully he will venture far enough from the rock so that you'll have time to pull the rock out before he hides again. I don't know, just a thought...

 

[Ryan22]

I had the rock out of the water for about two hours before I tried the fresh water. I guess I just have a stubborn crab, pretty elusive too, I haven't added any rock for over a year. This is the closest I've ever come to catching it.

 

[esmithiii]

Try carbonated water. They will shoot out faster than you can say "Shazaam!"

Ernie

 

[JamesM.]

D'ya try the old put a piece of food in a glass and lean it against the live rock trick? Crabs go for the food and then can't get outta the glass. I do it just for kicks overnite just to see what turns up. Course depends on what else you got in the tank that may be able to get in and out of the glass but you said ya isolated the rock. Made a box outta lite grid n zipties that can be placed over glass & rock to kept the fish out if'n your trying in display tank.

 

[Ryan22]

Ernie,
Now that is what I was looking for, I remebered that there was some trick, but I couldn't remeber what it was. I had been searching but, put crab in the search feild and see what you get. Does that have any negitive effect on the rock?

 

[kbauer]

Ryan, the food in the glass trick worked for me like a charm. I had a big old pinkish crab that I was afraid was looking too longingly at my peppermint shrimp and I wanted him (or her) out. First I took one of those glass vases that you get from the florist and I put a frozen shrimp (defrosted) into it and placed the vase on the sand bed where I could easily (and quickly) retrieve it. The first time I waited until morning but no crab and no shrimp. So the next time (and I had to wait until he got hungry again :roll: ) I only waited until about an hour after lights out. then I went in snatched up the vase and there he was! He is now happily living in the sump and I still feed him his favorite shrimp!

good luck!

KB

 

[esmithiii]

The rest of the rock should be OK.

Go buy some club soda and keep the digital camera handy!

Ernie

 

[Ryan22]

Well I'm happy to report that when I got home, there was a big fat happy crab sitting on the sand in my sump looking out at me. When I put the rock in the sump I put it in up against some a baffel and the side of the sump so that it was submerged but lifted off the bottom. Once it left the rock, it couldn't get back to it. I wish I had a digital camera, the thing is pretty big, I'd say at least an inch and a quarter by three quarters. It hid in that tank for over a year and I only saw it twice. But at least now I won't have to keep replacing the snails it was eating.

 

[Tanger]

Ryan, I just got rid of the same type of crab who was yanking hermits out of their shells like there was no tomorrow. I caught him with the ambush trick. I was up late one night and was looking around with a flashlight when I finally saw him. I jammed my arm in and snagged him with my hand, he didn't see me comming. He now lives in the sump, and he can stay there..... The glass with food on the bottom did'nt work cause the hermits and such ate everything first!!!!

 

[Tanger]

Ryan, my crab was approx 2-3" and had been there for around 2 years and had been see 2 times. Funny little world we have in a glass box......

 

[esmithiii]

Ryan- Congrats! I would love to see photos!

Ernie

 

[Ryan22]

I'll take a picture with my regular camera and try to get a picture disk when I get them developed. I should be able to post it that way. Thanks for the input everyone!