Catching Crabs
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33519
Printed Date: February 18 2026 at 5:08am
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Topic: Catching Crabs
Posted By: jwoo
Subject: Catching Crabs
Date Posted: June 02 2009 at 10:32am
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I've got some hairy looking crab guy chomping on my Xenia - I've seen him once or twice and know roughly where he lives. Every morning I look at the tank and more of my Xenia is gone. I'm down to only about 10% it's size. I think he has now starting chomping on my Christmas Tree rock as well. I'm starting to get odd dead spots on it. Needless to say I need to catch this guy ASAP! So any advice? Use the glass and shrimp trick? Use a trap? Does anyone have a trap to borrow? |
Replies:
Posted By: GentlemanBean
Date Posted: June 02 2009 at 11:51am
The only sure fire way I know of to catch crabs involves a trip to Vegas and a couple of fifths of jack.  Seriously though. If the crab is a coral muncher, you may have a hard time baiting the trap. If you know what rock he is in, you are probably better off just removing the rock. ------------- 
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jwoo wrote:Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: June 02 2009 at 12:04pm
This is a picture of the guy from another site: |
Posted By: CrimsRayne
Date Posted: June 02 2009 at 12:06pm
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I agree that if you know what rock the bugger is in, just take out that rock...
You could put that rock in a bucket or small tank and then try to catch him (if you like the rock and/or it has corals on it), but odds are that it will take time and patience...
You could try the bottle/shrimp method. With such a small critter I'd probably use a 20oz. or 32oz bottle rather than a 2 litter though. I find that most crabs go after krill so that is probably a good place to start. ------------- "What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer "The Puffer Girl" Zoo freak :) West Jordan |
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: June 02 2009 at 12:39pm
| I'm going to pull the rock and try to get him into the sump when I get home. I think I may have two though (or I just looked at the tank so long looking for him I started seeing double) - so I might try the bottle trick as well. |
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 11:13am
| Well the glass trick didn't work. It probably would have if my Da** cleaner shrimp would have left the bait alone. He kept pulling it out over and over again. I was hesitant to pull the rock out since it is rather large and holding up one of my arches but it looks like I've got no choice. |
Posted By: MrNewbie
Date Posted: June 05 2009 at 1:59pm
looks like you learned catching crabs is alot easier than getting rid of them 
------------- Just a couple of glass boxes full of slimey things |
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: June 05 2009 at 3:31pm
Well I got the rock out of there but can't get him out of the rock! It's in my sump right now and the bastard won't come out for nothing. Traps don't work - nothing works! So I fear that he will meet his demise. Originally I was going to save him and put him in my fuge but alas I fear that his time has come. With that said - should I just leave the rock out of water for a few hours? Will that eventually kill him? How long can crabs live out of the water? |
Posted By: Nick801
Date Posted: June 05 2009 at 4:11pm
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My bet is that he might come out of the rock if its out of the water for a bit
------------- http://www.reefinsanity.com" rel="nofollow - www.ReefInsanity.com http://www.facebook.com/ReefInsanity" rel="nofollow - www.Facebook.com/ReefInsanity 801-680-4676 |
Posted By: sanddune600
Date Posted: June 06 2009 at 11:23pm
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or spray him with some cold or hot water he wont like it and should try and leave
------------- Andy Jorgensen My number is four three 5 7 six four 8 0 three four |
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: June 07 2009 at 8:42pm
This worked. I had the rock out most of yesterday but didn't get the chance to try this till this morning. The moment the hot water hit the rock he was out of it. Thanks! |
Posted By: sanddune600
Date Posted: June 07 2009 at 9:14pm
 glad to hear you got him out
------------- Andy Jorgensen My number is four three 5 7 six four 8 0 three four |
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 7:35pm
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After much mourning and weeping after the crab in this post had finished off my Xenia I had written it off. BUT Sat. morning I woke up and looked into my tank - and lo' I did spy some tiny stalks where the crab had feasted. As of today they are now a quarter inch high! SO TAKE THAT CRAB I WIN! Probably not exciting to anyone else - but this was an epic two week battle with heavy casualties and my men have risen from the grave! Zombie Xenia! |
Posted By: GentlemanBean
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 8:01pm
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what did you end up doing with the crab?
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Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 8:37pm
Causality of war. When I stuck the rock in the tub to run water over it I was holding it above the drain. He jumped off the rock and well went down the drain. Which is too bad because I was going to stick the little bugger in my refuge. |
Posted By: pgravis
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 8:57pm
| if you ever make it north to ogden i could help replenish your supply of xenia with a couple of stocks. Seems like a long drive for xenia though! |