Nasty Spiny Crab - How to get the beggar out??

[johnnyoc]

I've a small innocuous looking spiny crab. However, he is one by one pulling my hermits apart! :evil:

He lives in a large very porous piece of live rock and is very cautious and very quick. I've had the rock out of the water to try to spear him with a kebab skewer to no avail. The rock is simply too maze live and offers him complete protection.
For the past week I've also had a jar with bait in for him to slip into - but he never bothers!

I've never seen him leave the rock and he hangs out in the 'doorway' of the live rock ready to scuttle back in if threatened.

My next plan is to stake the tank out with the lights off, having bait on a net to lift out when/if he takes it. However, I'm not convinced this will work as I am convinced he is an evil mastermind and capable of foiling all my plans.

Please can anyone offer any other ideas or tips to get rid of him?!?!

 

[Anonymous]

Take the rock out and squirt him with some club soda.

He'll come out!

 

[blackcloudmedia]

I agree, youll never net him unless he is really big. The jar may work if you leave it there long enough to look like it belongs but no telling. Crabs are really smart. They also go by a strong sense of smell. But you would probably be better off taking the rock out and using freshwater or club sode to get him out. Is there anything important on the rock? If its just basic old rock you could let it dry out and see if he comes out.

 

[johnnyoc]

Great, I've read about club soda somewhere but thought it was a bit strange I'll give it a try as there's only caluerpa on there at the moment.

On the plus side though just discovered a baby starfish about 1cm across.

I'll post with the soda results - cheers chaps

 

[johnnyoc]

Right after all that a nice portion of huss in a jar got the greedy bugger in 30 mins!
I'm crab free!

However, my new redlegs seem to have endless and wide ranging appetites!