I recently started my 1st reef tank. I am currently cycling my live rock and noticed something strange on my sand bed. Turns out it is a crab claw. After looking for information about crabs I found out that this belonged to a fellow I dont want in my tank.(Black tipped pointy claw). My question is, is he still alive. Can the one armed man be roaming in my tank? I rigged a pantyhose trap for him but was really wondering if it could still be alive. On another note I was thinking of doing a build up page like I have seen on other forums, were would be the best place to post this? Any help with my unwanted guest would be great>
You found part of a molt, Yep, he's still in there. I hope your trap works, that would be great. Otherwise, You will probably have to get up in the middle of the night and try to find out which rock he's in, and take the rock out. Then get HIM out. I would post it in invertebre's if just for the crab. I'd put it in General if for your tank. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on this. I just went thru it, but turned out there were 3 crabs instead of the one I had thought!
Another trick to use is a glass jar with the rim right up next to one of your rocks. Put a nice piece of food in the bottom. At night the crab will go looking for that delicious smelling food, fall in and go to work eating it. All you do is remove the jar, pluck out the critter and give it away or put it in a ziplock and freeze it and throw it out.
