JerseyChick Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 I can't get a full shot, but I bought another 1.5 chunk of live rock a few days ago. This lil evil thing sits in a hole extends it's claws and trys to nip EVERYTHING. Does it sound familiar? Here is the best shot I could get... Link to comment
scottyreef Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 no pic? nevermind i see it look like a evil crab maybe a Xanthid or Mithrax crab Link to comment
scottyreef Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 here is a new pic site that i found http://www.nhm.org/guana/bvi-invt/bvi-surv/crab-g06.htm Link to comment
JerseyChick Posted August 14, 2008 Author Share Posted August 14, 2008 I have a red and a green mirthrax. Who both behave themselves. This one looks like the last picture in the Xanthidae section of the link you posted. Although I am just going by legs and claw which is all i have seen. I believe the picture is labeled 77x11 ( I wish it had a name) Thank you for helping me, now to find out the specific name and get a better pic so I can google away. Link to comment
SPS20 Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Perhaps it is a squat lobster. Does it have 2 small filter-feeding appendages on its "head"? Link to comment
mmelnick Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 I don't know what it is. But judging by the claw shape and demeanor that you have described; I would get it out of there. Link to comment
JerseyChick Posted August 15, 2008 Author Share Posted August 15, 2008 Perhaps it is a squat lobster. Does it have 2 small filter-feeding appendages on its "head"? It hides and if I take a flash photo it completely takes it's body out of the "line of sight" I don't know what it is. But judging by the claw shape and demeanor that you have described; I would get it out of there. I wish I could, any tips you recommend? It has also since left the hole and I have no clue where it is I am afraid for my barnacle blenny who prefers live rock holes for a hide out. Link to comment
JerseyChick Posted August 15, 2008 Author Share Posted August 15, 2008 Oh crap... I am thinking Rock Crabs: HARMFUL These are hard to spot and usually come out at night, They will eat anything they can catch including small fish and CUC members if they get hungry enough. They can also grow pretty large at times. A tell tale sign you have one or more is that you will see the shed, especially the large claw shed. The darker variety matches the exact "sighting" I had (all the way down to the stripe) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_rock_crab Should I just take the rock out and soak it in a saltwater bucket with a few food pellets to get em out? I am sure that moving the rock would not affect the tank too much, but I could be wrong. I have a feeling it is still in the new 1.5 chunk of rock because it is EXTREMELY porous more so than all my other pieces. Link to comment
ddr_phish Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 You have two solutions, get an octopus to eat the crab, or jab a kabob skewer in that hole! Don't feel sorry for him! Just think of it as an added treat for your CUC! Link to comment
JerseyChick Posted August 15, 2008 Author Share Posted August 15, 2008 Octopus!!! (kidding) I really wanna see what it looks like alive tho. I will be humane my first try (with the bucket tonight + portable airator (no heater after I match temperature) If unsuccessful I will have a crab kabob tomorrow. Link to comment
gulfsurfer101 Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I hate when I get crabs. I never can seem to get rid of them. Reef crabs that is. I have this huge crab in my FOWLR that has the biggest looking pinchers ever. I got him in some liverock and he looked about that size. He's about 5" or 6" now and I just keep throwing in damsels since he has now become my pet. He can move a 5 pound rock to fit his ambushing needs. I'd skewer yours if he was killing all my stuff and I didn't have a sump to put him in. Link to comment
JerseyChick Posted August 15, 2008 Author Share Posted August 15, 2008 Yeah I am going to give him from midnight tonight till morning to get the F out of my rock (in the bucket)... or he will be a kabob at lights on tomorrow. I want to get a better pic of "IT" to maybe help some one, but yeah as of tonight it will be out of my tank. Link to comment
lakshwadeep Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Also check here: http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html (has a listing of squat lobsters) http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchshrimp.html Link to comment
JerseyChick Posted August 15, 2008 Author Share Posted August 15, 2008 CAUGHT ONE! hopefully that's all that was in there and after I look closer at it in the morning I can see if it is the same claw rom the picture. for now the lil f-er is in a home depot bucket with three asterinas (wierd spotted colorful asterina's) Link to comment
JerseyChick Posted August 16, 2008 Author Share Posted August 16, 2008 Ok crab count at THREE!!! now, I have them all alive and in a closed jar with tiny air holes. Tomorrow I will be taking all three as well as a bad starfish i found to a semi local fish store that employs a marine biologist and I will beg him to tell me which species they are. As of now my guess is one mirthrax and two xanthidae (evil bastar_s) <-- those match the picture I took, and are EXTREMELY aggressive towards each other as well as my mirthrax (debating putting the mirthrax back in my tank) Link to comment
JerseyChick Posted August 17, 2008 Author Share Posted August 17, 2008 Found ANOTHER friggin crab tonight I shined a flashlight at the holes and there it was... It had a fat white claw and has scared the bageebees out of my blenny that the blenny is now hiding in the back staring at the false wall. What if these lil evil bums multiplied in my tank. I am so MAD right now! Oh and I think I skewered it... I jammed a syringe in the hole. Link to comment
ddr_phish Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 What the hell?! SRSLY THO, its octopus time, or trigger lol... I doubt they successfully multiplied in your tank, you just probably got bad luck with your LR selection. I would suggest checking your tank every night until you are certain they are gone. Good luck JoiseyGel! Link to comment
JerseyChick Posted August 17, 2008 Author Share Posted August 17, 2008 How does the octopus thing work? LOL Do u think my LFS will let me borrow/rent one? Same Q for Trigger? I have tons of hitchers I just didn't realize how bad it was If u had my tank what exactly would u do? Link to comment
ddr_phish Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 How does the octopus thing work? LOL Do u think my LFS will let me borrow/rent one? Same Q for Trigger? I have tons of hitchers I just didn't realize how bad it was If u had my tank what exactly would u do? Flash Light and Bamboo Skewer every night for a couple weeks until your sure there are no more. Link to comment
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