So lately I've been losing fish left and right. Bodies never found. Bodies too large for a serpent star to consume in a night. Two nights ago I get woken up by my wife at 2 am a she was downstairs flipping laundry over (yes with two found kids sleep is hard to come by) when she looked into my tank with the lights in the laundry room on. My tank was dark. To her surprise a giant re and white hairy crab was sittin on a rock. I ran downstairs and snappe a pic. Unfortunately I cannot upload from my phone I'll try from my pc. My guess for size is about 4-5" in length and his claws are about the size of the end of my pinky finger. Soon as I took a pic he took off and I haven't seem him since. So I'm guessing this little bugger is the reason I'm losing fish and coral and perhaps all y coralline algae. When I post the pic an ID would be great. Thanks.
Cause of death
- Thread starter Krazykarl
- Start date
- Status
reefer41
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2011
- Location
- Windsor, Ontario
looks like a red emerald crab, i had a black one in my tank before.
AdInfinitum
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2012
- Location
- Thorndale, Ontario
Not likely a mithraculus sp. similar carapace shape but the black pincers are generally a give-away that it is a Xanthid sp. (same family as the infamous Gorilla crabs).
If so it will be a carnivorous scavenger when small and pure predator when larger, Xanthids do supplement their diets with coralline algae but unfortunately not pest algaes. The larger colorful species like you have are nice cleaners in large fish only systems but they will eat polyps and will tear the feet of Nem's so they can feed on them as they die. A store will probably take it or someone with a large fowler...
Incidentally Kyle, you need to reconsider the company you keep, since catching crabs is becoming a recurring theme for you.
If so it will be a carnivorous scavenger when small and pure predator when larger, Xanthids do supplement their diets with coralline algae but unfortunately not pest algaes. The larger colorful species like you have are nice cleaners in large fish only systems but they will eat polyps and will tear the feet of Nem's so they can feed on them as they die. A store will probably take it or someone with a large fowler...
Incidentally Kyle, you need to reconsider the company you keep, since catching crabs is becoming a recurring theme for you.
AdInfinitum link said:Incidentally Kyle, you need to reconsider the company you keep, since catching crabs is becoming a recurring theme for you.
Hahahaha
With all this knowledge it seems you were hanging around the same people.
spyd
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2011
- Location
- Kitchener, Ontario
Set a bottle trap for the thing. Use a jar and put some bait in there. Once he goes in, he won't be able to get out. It is definitely not something you want in the tank!
I agree with you, I have been catching a lot of crabs lmao. I spotted him again last night with crazybizzle over. He hides inside my giant Christmas tree rock. He must be the cause of my coralline algae disappearing as well as all my tiny fish. I'm gonna set the bottle trap tonight and see if I am fortunate enough to catch him and maybe brig him over to coral crazy. Little bugger is a pain in the a$$. Thanks for your help guys....
R
reeffreak
Guest
if ya cant catch him exterminate him 8) the longer hes in there the more you lose out on $$$$
- Status