Hitch-hiker crab dangerous?

[sac10918]

I found a hitch-hiker crab in my tank a few days ago. He lives in a crevice and it would be really hard to get a pic. He reminds me of a coral banded shrimp, in that his claws are long and stick out towards the front. He also is striped. I worry because he seems to live right near where my precious clownfish sleeps, and I don't want him to attack the clown (I don't know if crabs generally attack fish or anythign).
So, how imperative is it to get this crab out of there? And, how do I get him out? Any ideas?
If I do get him out, I don't have a refuge or anywhere to put him, so what should I do with him? I dont want to kill him but I certainly don't want him harming my fish! Advice?

 

[murph145]

well i would watch out and see how he does....
in general if a crab has pointy sharp claws then its a meat eater if the claws flaten out at the end then its more of an algae eater and rock picker
IMO if its mean lookin get it out and toss it....
believe me lots of crabs get tossed by reefers lol

 

[sac10918]

So if the claw stays thick at the end, its a meat eater and if it flattens out then he is an algea eater? I will have to try to get a look, but like I said, he hides very well.
How would I catch him if i did want to remove him?

 

[nakadoc]

I have that problem right now, I had a hitchhiker crab which was really tiny at the time I first seen him. Now about 8 months have gone by and this dude is now huge! He has flat tips on his claws and has never touched a thing until 2 nights ago. He got my black and white clown really good, he has no tail and all his fins are tore up pretty bad dont know if he will make it or not.
I am trying to catch him but had no luck the past days. Anyone got a method on getting crabs out? I tried puting a piece of shirmp in a net in hopes I will catch him in the net while eatting and pull him out.
I would recommend getting your crab out now before he becomes a problem.

 

[murph145]

what u can do is when the lights go out use a glass and have it tilted against the rock where the crab is usually at.... at the bottom of the glass put a shrimp..... the crab will come out of the rock and try to get the shrimp he will go down to the bottom of the glass but when he turns around to climb back up the glass is angeld such that he will just slip tryin to climb up it so he will stay at the bottom....
that way u can get him out that usually seems to work....
u might catch all ur hermits too though lol
IMO crabs like that shouldnt be in the reef tank cuz they get big and even if they are mainly algae eaters they can damage other things... i had a black emerald hitchicker start small got big and then developed a taste for the growth tips on my sps.... luckily i seen him one night on a rock and it was one of the top ones with nothin on it so i grabbed the rock real fast and he was on the back side....

 

[sac10918]

YIKES! nacadoc, I think i need to get that crab out of there! I would be sooo upset if he hurt my clown!
Murph, i will have to try that cup technique but it is a funny angled rock and I am not sure if i will be able to get him that way. Is there a trap or anything else I could buy? Plus, I think my cleaner shrimps would steal the shrimp bait in about 2 seconds.