I Got Crabs!

[FocusReefing]

My 24g nano has been cycling for about a month now. Last night I went in to check the tank, (ive been keeping the lights off while cycling) and I noticed a small crab living in 1 of the rocks. I only saw him for about a second before he retreated. Hes about the size of a quarter, maybe smaller.He looked to be the color of sand, but I couldnt really tell. Anyone know how to how to build a DIY crrab trap. Or any related links. I would like to be able to id him before I start adding my livestock. Thanks,
JV.

 

[Pootie]

i can bet $ it's a Gorilla Crab. i had a few that came in with my liverock. Might also be a emerald green crab ( i hear they get lighter in color as they age)

 

[FocusReefing]

i can bet $ it's a Gorilla Crab. i had a few that came in with my liverock. Might also be a emerald green crab ( i hear they get lighter in color as they age)

Really? So its possible theres more than one of these buggers? How safe are they?

 

[hijinks]

I have two emeralds in my tank.. one is almost 1 1/2 inches and the other is half the size and the big one lives under some mushrooms and leaves everything alone.

Here is what I'd do.. take a soda bottle.. cut the top off and then stick the top back on so the small opening is facing the bottom of the bottle. Basically you are making a way for the crab to get in but not get out. Put some fish in there and hopefully the crab will take the bait.

 

[basiab]

Safe for what? They are all opportunistic even the hermits.

 

[ESSELO]

I Found A Great Trick- Only If Something Is In Your Rock. Fill A Bucket With Salt Water With A Specific Gravity Of 1.035-1.040. Submerge The Rock In This Bucket For About A Minute. Any Invertebrates Will Hop Out And Off The Rock Into The Water. If After A Minute This Is Not The Case Wait A Little Longer. Sure Enough Any Crabs, Shrimp Or Bristle Worms Should Be On The Bottom Off The Rock. Sometimes The Worms Will Only Hang Out Of There Hole And Will Not Come All The Way Out. If So, Grab The Old Pliers And Yank Em' Out Grabbing As Far Down The Worm As Possible. If You Don't Get A Good Grip They Will Tear Off And Regenerate. This Is Cool Because The Things You Want To Keep Can Be Removed And The Unwanted Pests Can Be Discarded.

 

[FocusReefing]

Safe for what? They are all opportunistic even the hermits.

"safe" as in safe for reef & possibly other inverts & fish I might add in the future. i.e. shrimp or perculas. Would anyone bother removing them? Or just let them be?

 

[hijinks]

depends what kind of crab they are.. some will eat coral.. some might.. some are unlikely to.

 

[rookie07]

just take the rock out...and wait it out...stick a pen, or anything else that will fit, into the hole and force the lil bugger out...i would do this to all the rocks...i dont think that a crab will move out of the rock b/c of SG changes..i did a fresh water dip and the crab still stayed in the rock...I had to use a drill to get him out(he came out in a few pieces if you get my drift)

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Thats a little extreme. Dont you think. Its just a crab.

just take the rock out...and wait it out...stick a pen, or anything else that will fit, into the hole and force the lil bugger out...i would do this to all the rocks...i dont think that a crab will move out of the rock b/c of SG changes..i did a fresh water dip and the crab still stayed in the rock...I had to use a drill to get him out(he came out in a few pieces if you get my drift)