[Earth Artist]

We found this crab the other day that we did not put in the tank...
It has a burrow dug under my live rock with a couple of tunnels..
Whenever it sees us in runs back in it is small About a 1/2 - 3/4" across.. It is reddish brown with red eyes and kind of fuzzy legs like our emerald crab but real skitish..
Is this ok to leave in the tank or should it be removed?
If it should be removed how do I catch it?????????
Thank you

[rlcline76]

That pic is on wetwebmedia. May be some sort of xanthid. Assume it isn't reef safe and get him out. If you have a sump, you might be able to house him there. As far as trapping him, someone else might be able to assist you. My husband's method was to tear up the tank!

[Earth Artist]

Yes I was unable to get a pic of it and found this on the net... looked just like this one...
tearing up the tank would be very problematic due to the tank size and set up

[CyberJester]

could always make a little crab pot

[Fishhead Junkie]

i have never seen one before but it looks cool. i say keep it until it starts killing, unless you read somewhere that they are always bad and will cause trouble..why rock the cradle if you dont have to

steve

[Krazy]

yeah i think its a gorilla crab, defiently not reef safe none the less

Might do well in a sump if you have one...

[Fishhead Junkie]

now thats a name..GORILLA CRAB....talk about having to fill some big shoes. you sometimes have to wonder who in the world comes up with some of these names for fish or inverts.

steve

[larz1620]

I just acquired one of these too. I picked up 1 LR, 2 clowns, and a anemone for the clowns. If he came with the LR, I am amazed on his hiding abilities! This was on Friday. Then today (Sunday) I found my anemone sucked up by my powerhead. As I tried to clean it, one of my clowns started swimming face up and within 30 min. was dead. I took out all my LR and sifted through the sand looking for this guy and didn't find him. Any advice?

[Kimjo1]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

My husband's method was to tear up the tank!

too funny! Mine too...

[Ganrin]

One way to catch unwanted, quick crabs is to lean a tall, steepsided glass at a steep angle against your rockwork near where you think the crab lives and put a piece of food at the bottom of the glass. Do this at lights out then watch for the crab to crawl into the glass to get the food. Put a net over the mouth of the glass and you have your crab.

[Earth Artist]

thank you I will try it.... do you think a shot glass would work since the area is resides in is very small????

[glampka]

If you use a shot glass you're going to need very quick hands to get it out of the tank before the crab crawls out of the glass.

[Ganrin]

Yeah, the reason I suggested a tall glass is it works as a trap, the crab will have a hard time climbing up the sides, a short glass like a shot glass will be much easier for him to escape before you can get him caught.