Crab killer?
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=56412
Printed Date: May 17 2025 at 3:27am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Crab killer?
Posted By: lukeskybaker
Subject: Crab killer?
Date Posted: May 12 2012 at 10:05am
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We have a little crab in our tank, and he's starting to get bigger, and seemingly, more aggressive. He doesn't both our fish much, but we often find him pestering the hermit crabs. We may think he's actually killing the hermit crabs--the reason we think this is we don't see as many hermit crabs crawling around like we used to, and there are several empty shells here and there we thought had crabs in them once. Plus, sometimes the water gets to smelling really fishy. Please click this link to see a 10-second video of our little crab. He has about an inch-long body, and inch-long front claws. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16474933/IMG_0310.MOV" rel="nofollow - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16474933/IMG_0310.MOV So...is this crab a killer?
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Replies:
Posted By: 1stupidpunk
Date Posted: May 12 2012 at 10:44am
| OH MY! Well its hard to tell from the video but it looks like either a mithrax crab or possibly a rock crab. If its a rock crab get it out ASAP. If its a mithrax crab they are reef safe (with caution) my mithrax had a tendency to eat small hermits and snails and was picking on my conch. Somebody else will probably have a better idea for the ID of that crab |
Posted By: 1stupidpunk
Date Posted: May 12 2012 at 11:01am
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heres a good link http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: May 12 2012 at 11:48am
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I agree, it is a rock crab, so called because they come in on ocean collected LR as
tiny guys and grow larger in our tanks, sometimes catching and eating
fish 10 times their size. True story. The easy way to catch rock crabs is with a pint sized glass jar or drinking glass. Put a small piece of raw shrimp in the jar and place it at about a 45 degree angle or a little more of an angle against the rock near where the rock crab lives. Do this just before lights out. During the night it will crawl into the jar after the meat but the slick glass sides will keep it from crawling out. This often works the first night but may take several days before the crab builds up the courage to investigate the tasty morsel. 
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