Lots to ID please, no rush
- Thread starter monsinour
- Start date
monsinour
Active Member
Welp, going to have to get a flashlight then. And something that can catch him. I dont think i will be able to net this guy. He hangs out on the underside of a big rock and doesnt come out that far from the hole he hides in. I need to get the long pinchers, but where can I get them?
Edit : would it be advisable to not get the CUC while this thing is in the tank?
Edit : would it be advisable to not get the CUC while this thing is in the tank?
btldreef
Moderator
Depends how big the crab is.
Since you have nothing in the tank right now, you may be able to spot feed the area that you think he's in. Do this for a couple of days at the same time and he should start to get used to the idea. This usually makes them easier to grab. As for big forceps, I use plastic forceps that are meant for feeding reptiles, you can find them at most *****'s and other LFS's.
Since you have nothing in the tank right now, you may be able to spot feed the area that you think he's in. Do this for a couple of days at the same time and he should start to get used to the idea. This usually makes them easier to grab. As for big forceps, I use plastic forceps that are meant for feeding reptiles, you can find them at most *****'s and other LFS's.
monsinour
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380512/lots-to-id-please-no-rush/60#post_3314282
Depends how big the crab is.
Since you have nothing in the tank right now, you may be able to spot feed the area that you think he's in. Do this for a couple of days at the same time and he should start to get used to the idea. This usually makes them easier to grab. As for big forceps, I use plastic forceps that are meant for feeding reptiles, you can find them at most *****'s and other LFS's.
I know exactly where he is. I can see him go into hiding when i sit down in the chair next to the tank. I can see his legs, and then he pulls those into the rock as well. If I had to guess on size, his body cant be much larger than a dime but has to be smaller than a nickel.
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380512/lots-to-id-please-no-rush/60#post_3314282
Depends how big the crab is.
Since you have nothing in the tank right now, you may be able to spot feed the area that you think he's in. Do this for a couple of days at the same time and he should start to get used to the idea. This usually makes them easier to grab. As for big forceps, I use plastic forceps that are meant for feeding reptiles, you can find them at most *****'s and other LFS's.
I know exactly where he is. I can see him go into hiding when i sit down in the chair next to the tank. I can see his legs, and then he pulls those into the rock as well. If I had to guess on size, his body cant be much larger than a dime but has to be smaller than a nickel.
btldreef
Moderator
At that size, he should not be able to harm too much, but I'd hold off on putting shrimp in the tank. Snails should be okay. Definitely try to catch him though and IMO, if you can't ID him, get rid of it. I've heard horror stories of people who banish a "bad" crab to the sump only to have it chew through an electrical cord for a pump or heater and create absolute chaos in the tank.
If you know the whole he's retreating to, can you get like a wire hanger or something in there to try to stab him? I know this sounds cruel, but it was the only way I was able to rid my tank of an evil fish eating crab without taking apart all my rock work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380512/lots-to-id-please-no-rush/60#post_3314294
I know exactly where he is. I can see him go into hiding when i sit down in the chair next to the tank. I can see his legs, and then he pulls those into the rock as well. If I had to guess on size, his body cant be much larger than a dime but has to be smaller than a nickel.
If you know the whole he's retreating to, can you get like a wire hanger or something in there to try to stab him? I know this sounds cruel, but it was the only way I was able to rid my tank of an evil fish eating crab without taking apart all my rock work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380512/lots-to-id-please-no-rush/60#post_3314294
I know exactly where he is. I can see him go into hiding when i sit down in the chair next to the tank. I can see his legs, and then he pulls those into the rock as well. If I had to guess on size, his body cant be much larger than a dime but has to be smaller than a nickel.
bang guy
Moderator
A trick I always used to catch bad crabs was to bait a small glass tumbler (rock glass) with some type of meaty seafood like a piece of silverside. Set the glass at night and touching the rock you often see it in. Set the glass at an angle toward the rock so the crab can walk down into it. It will not be able to walk back out.
monsinour
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///forum/thread/380512/lots-to-id-please-no-rush/60#post_3314336
A trick I always used to catch bad crabs was to bait a small glass tumbler (rock glass) with some type of meaty seafood like a piece of silverside. Set the glass at night and touching the rock you often see it in. Set the glass at an angle toward the rock so the crab can walk down into it. It will not be able to walk back out.
The rock he is in is up from the bottom and I cant get the glass to situate itself without falling. So I put it on the bottom on an angle. If I wanted to get the bristleworms, this would have worked tremendously. Atleast wit this, I have seen him almost all the way out of the rock. He scares easily and retreats into the rock. He is much smaller than a dime. My wife said that the ends of the claws were white, but I dont think she saw the black tips. the tips of his feet are white and he is mostly a brown crab with some tiny white spots on his back.
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///forum/thread/380512/lots-to-id-please-no-rush/60#post_3314336
A trick I always used to catch bad crabs was to bait a small glass tumbler (rock glass) with some type of meaty seafood like a piece of silverside. Set the glass at night and touching the rock you often see it in. Set the glass at an angle toward the rock so the crab can walk down into it. It will not be able to walk back out.
The rock he is in is up from the bottom and I cant get the glass to situate itself without falling. So I put it on the bottom on an angle. If I wanted to get the bristleworms, this would have worked tremendously. Atleast wit this, I have seen him almost all the way out of the rock. He scares easily and retreats into the rock. He is much smaller than a dime. My wife said that the ends of the claws were white, but I dont think she saw the black tips. the tips of his feet are white and he is mostly a brown crab with some tiny white spots on his back.
btldreef
Moderator
If he's that small, the black tips might be very tiny and easy to miss. The rest of the claw may very well be white.
I would continue to try to catch the little guy, stick food in the tank near his spot every time you see him, get him to trust you, then grab the little sucker.
I would continue to try to catch the little guy, stick food in the tank near his spot every time you see him, get him to trust you, then grab the little sucker.
monsinour
Active Member
Even though he is still tiny, continue to not add anything but maybe snails so long as he is in the tank, yes? I may not want to do it as it does go against what i believe, but there is no way this little B@$t@rD is keeping me from adding critters into the tank. I have waited long enough, this creep goes by friday morning come hell or high water or coat hanger. The green grass on the back of the tank needs to go and I cant get the magnet cleaner back there. I sure hope I get the right snails for this tank and they eat that carp.
btldreef
Moderator
I would hold off on shrimp at the very least. If he's small, he shouldn't be able to do much damage to snails, he might get one, but that would be about the end of it.
I tried keeping a little monster crab that I could not catch well fed so that he'd stay out of trouble until I could catch him. Two missing fish later, he got stabbed.
I tried keeping a little monster crab that I could not catch well fed so that he'd stay out of trouble until I could catch him. Two missing fish later, he got stabbed.
bang guy
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380512/lots-to-id-please-no-rush/60#post_3314523
The rock he is in is up from the bottom and I cant get the glass to situate itself without falling. So I put it on the bottom on an angle. If I wanted to get the bristleworms, this would have worked tremendously. Atleast wit this, I have seen him almost all the way out of the rock. He scares easily and retreats into the rock. He is much smaller than a dime. My wife said that the ends of the claws were white, but I dont think she saw the black tips. the tips of his feet are white and he is mostly a brown crab with some tiny white spots on his back.
You could try a taller glass and I forgot to mention to do it at night.
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380512/lots-to-id-please-no-rush/60#post_3314523
The rock he is in is up from the bottom and I cant get the glass to situate itself without falling. So I put it on the bottom on an angle. If I wanted to get the bristleworms, this would have worked tremendously. Atleast wit this, I have seen him almost all the way out of the rock. He scares easily and retreats into the rock. He is much smaller than a dime. My wife said that the ends of the claws were white, but I dont think she saw the black tips. the tips of his feet are white and he is mostly a brown crab with some tiny white spots on his back.
You could try a taller glass and I forgot to mention to do it at night.
monsinour
Active Member
Well I tried this last night. Caught a few bristle worms but no crab. The ammonia was up this morning, but I believe that is due to the food that was used as bait. I tried using some frozen shrimp stuff made by SFBB. Is that the wrong bait? I then tried to install the GFCI outlet in the wall for the tank and the wiring in this 100 year old house is soo awesome it fried the outlet before the outlet could protect itself. Cursing up a storm, I went to lowes to get another outlet. When installing this one I could not get electricity to flow through it. I checked the circut breaker like 3 times to make sure I wasnt being a moron and it was fine. After taking the second one out, I found the problem. Aparently the brass wire broke and there wasnt electricity going to the outlet. Where it broke was too close to the outlet box so I had to remove the retaining clip and pull as much wire as I could through. I had barely enough to connect the outlet with. After several profaine substittions for the word golf, the outlet is in. I then tried to get rid of the 2 aiptasia that I can get to and that didnt go well. More profanity and then I said, screw it. I got my metal skewer we use to poke holes in stuff and to hold meat on some kind of roticiry (i kant spel) and started poking in the rock where I last saw him. More cusing as I didnt hear the sound of a shell breaking. I then used the metal probe to start breaking off pieces of rock so I could get the skewer in farther. Even more cusing as I didnt hear the sound of a shell breaking. After placing the rock back and turning everything back on, I notice another aiptasia that is laying under some rockwork just sitting on the sand. So then my wife comes over to me, after I have cleaned up the mess I made. and asks me what I am doing. I reply,"Looking for a crab that may or may not be dead stuffed inside a rock that only comes out at night that scares easily and scurries inside of the rock when he gets spooked."
Someone shoot me.
Someone shoot me.
monsinour
Active Member
So it came down to this, I am getting critters tomorrow and that crab had to go. I gave it fair enough waring, but its not my fault that it cant comprehend what I am saying. I may have done this the unorthodox way, but a means to and end for sure.
I was sitting next to the tank, on the side that he hangs out on. Turned on my new 5 LED flashlight I got just to look at the tank at night and shined it on the rock. Something scurried into the rock that caught my eye. "that little f&*^er made it past the skewer. Not tonight he wont!" I started taking the canopy off, the glass cover off, and cleared room on the table. (avert your eyes if you dont want to read the rest, but yea he is dead) I went into the kitchen to get the skewer, and a towel. Moved the chairs close to the tank and stood up on them. I then reached into the tank, and pulled out the 15 pound rock and quickly went over to the table. I set the rock down on the table and lifted it up on its side. I shined the light into the hole he was hiding in and didnt see him, figures right? I then set the rock down and quickly scanned the tank. I didnt see anything moving so I figured he had to be way up the hole in the rock. I stuck in the skewer and started jabbing and poking and pushing and pulling and everything else. Nothing. I set the rock down and sat back in the chair dejected. I had a choice to make, leave the rock out and wait for him to come off if or put the rock back and try again later. Just then I had imagined the peppermint shrimp i am planning on getting being eaten by this little crab. No way that is happening. Again I tilt the rock up and start jabbing away in the hole. I must have jabbed a little too hard as I broke off a piece of the rock. At that moment the little crab fell out of the rock and startled me a little bit. I dropped the rock and it fell to the table, only about an inch. Needless to say, luck was not on his side as the exact place he was, was right where the rock made contact with the table and he got squished. I didnt realize it as I picked the rock up and started looking for him. Not finding him I flipped the rock over and saw the squishyness. I had a mini celebration and then quickly cleaned him off the rock. I then placed the rock back into the tank and situated it to make sure it wouldnt fall. I tried to get a better look at him and sure enough, the claw tips were black. "Hasta la vista, baby"
The rock has been back in the tank for a while and everything that is noticeable with life, the dusters and coral, are all acting like normal. I am sure there will be a few casualties of being out of the water for a total of 3 minutes, but I am relieved that the crab is gone. I will be checking the water tomorrow morning and as long as the ammonia is 0, its off to the LFS to get the critters.
I was sitting next to the tank, on the side that he hangs out on. Turned on my new 5 LED flashlight I got just to look at the tank at night and shined it on the rock. Something scurried into the rock that caught my eye. "that little f&*^er made it past the skewer. Not tonight he wont!" I started taking the canopy off, the glass cover off, and cleared room on the table. (avert your eyes if you dont want to read the rest, but yea he is dead) I went into the kitchen to get the skewer, and a towel. Moved the chairs close to the tank and stood up on them. I then reached into the tank, and pulled out the 15 pound rock and quickly went over to the table. I set the rock down on the table and lifted it up on its side. I shined the light into the hole he was hiding in and didnt see him, figures right? I then set the rock down and quickly scanned the tank. I didnt see anything moving so I figured he had to be way up the hole in the rock. I stuck in the skewer and started jabbing and poking and pushing and pulling and everything else. Nothing. I set the rock down and sat back in the chair dejected. I had a choice to make, leave the rock out and wait for him to come off if or put the rock back and try again later. Just then I had imagined the peppermint shrimp i am planning on getting being eaten by this little crab. No way that is happening. Again I tilt the rock up and start jabbing away in the hole. I must have jabbed a little too hard as I broke off a piece of the rock. At that moment the little crab fell out of the rock and startled me a little bit. I dropped the rock and it fell to the table, only about an inch. Needless to say, luck was not on his side as the exact place he was, was right where the rock made contact with the table and he got squished. I didnt realize it as I picked the rock up and started looking for him. Not finding him I flipped the rock over and saw the squishyness. I had a mini celebration and then quickly cleaned him off the rock. I then placed the rock back into the tank and situated it to make sure it wouldnt fall. I tried to get a better look at him and sure enough, the claw tips were black. "Hasta la vista, baby"
The rock has been back in the tank for a while and everything that is noticeable with life, the dusters and coral, are all acting like normal. I am sure there will be a few casualties of being out of the water for a total of 3 minutes, but I am relieved that the crab is gone. I will be checking the water tomorrow morning and as long as the ammonia is 0, its off to the LFS to get the critters.
monsinour
Active Member
Found this in my sump. I know its not one that I just added so what is it?
I also spotted what looks to be a bristle worm but it has those many tips on the sides like a fire worm. I cant get a pic as of yet, but I am thinking it needs to come out, right? Like only the bad worms have the many "hairs" along the sides of them right?
edit : got pics, well as best one can when holding a flashlight in one hand and the camera in the other, LOL
This pic is in focus but not zoomed in
Then this one is a little blurry, but you can see the white "hairs" on the side of the worm.
I also spotted what looks to be a bristle worm but it has those many tips on the sides like a fire worm. I cant get a pic as of yet, but I am thinking it needs to come out, right? Like only the bad worms have the many "hairs" along the sides of them right?
edit : got pics, well as best one can when holding a flashlight in one hand and the camera in the other, LOL
This pic is in focus but not zoomed in
Then this one is a little blurry, but you can see the white "hairs" on the side of the worm.
bang guy
Moderator
Most Fireworms are beneficial. No need to worry about that one, it's a beneficial detrivore. There are hundreds of different Fireworms (a type of bristleworm), only a couple are harmful. Of course most of them either sting or their bristles can irritate your skin so don't touch them.
monsinour
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///forum/thread/380512/lots-to-id-please-no-rush/60#post_3315682
Most Fireworms are beneficial. No need to worry about that one, it's a beneficial detrivore. There are hundreds of different Fireworms (a type of bristleworm), only a couple are harmful. Of course most of them either sting or their bristles can irritate your skin so don't touch them.
Thanks for the help with the worm. What about the snail? I would assume it is ok, but I have no clue as to what it is.
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///forum/thread/380512/lots-to-id-please-no-rush/60#post_3315682
Most Fireworms are beneficial. No need to worry about that one, it's a beneficial detrivore. There are hundreds of different Fireworms (a type of bristleworm), only a couple are harmful. Of course most of them either sting or their bristles can irritate your skin so don't touch them.
Thanks for the help with the worm. What about the snail? I would assume it is ok, but I have no clue as to what it is.