Osprey Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 I crept up on my tank with a flashlight last night; I was watching all the different pods scurrying around (quite entertaining, try it sometime if you haven't already), and I started to shine the flashlight into all the little hidey-holes in the rock. Then I saw something move in the cracks, slowly sheltering itself from the light... Something big. And spiderlike. I have at least two enormous crabs in my tank. Possibly more. Their carapaces alone are at least 2 inches wide, definite fish-killer size. They have all the supposed earmarks of 'dangerous' crabs, too... hairy carapace, dark pincers. I'm stunned that I've had all the rock in my tank for at least ten months (no coral additions since four months ago), and yet these things have escaped my notice. I scrubbed down all my rock too, very carefully, and never saw any crabs. I've heard of tipping a baited beer glass to catch them, but I don't have a DSB, so I'm not sure I'll catch much more than my hermits and bristleworms. Should I try to bait them out? They don't seem to move very fast, but I remember thinking that about my brittle star before I scared him for the first time... Any other suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunl Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 I crept up on my tank with a flashlight last night; I was watching all the different pods scurrying around (quite entertaining, try it sometime if you haven't already), and I started to shine the flashlight into all the little hidey-holes in the rock. Then I saw something move in the cracks, slowly sheltering itself from the light... Something big. And spiderlike. I have at least two enormous crabs in my tank. Possibly more. Their carapaces alone are at least 2 inches wide, definite fish-killer size. They have all the supposed earmarks of 'dangerous' crabs, too... hairy carapace, dark pincers. I'm stunned that I've had all the rock in my tank for at least ten months (no coral additions since four months ago), and yet these things have escaped my notice. I scrubbed down all my rock too, very carefully, and never saw any crabs. I've heard of tipping a baited beer glass to catch them, but I don't have a DSB, so I'm not sure I'll catch much more than my hermits and bristleworms. Should I try to bait them out? They don't seem to move very fast, but I remember thinking that about my brittle star before I scared him for the first time... Any other suggestions? Borrow my moray eel? :smokey: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osprey Posted September 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 Borrow my moray eel? :smokey: -roll- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosshog Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 Aren't the surprises awesome. The bad part is some of them need to be removed. My tanks fascinate me, amazing what comes crawling out of the rocks!! Good luck getting the buggers cleaned up. I'm fighting some aiptasia at the moment. Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosshog Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 Aren't the surprises awesome. The bad part is some of them need to be removed. My tanks fascinate me, amazing what comes crawling out of the rocks!! Good luck getting the buggers cleaned up. I'm fighting some aiptasia at the moment. Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osprey Posted September 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Baited a vase, and tipped it up against some rocks last night. One down... don't know how many are left to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapeape Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 post a pic of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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