ahhhhhh! need to catch a huge crab?

possitive k · #1 09-09-2005, 04:49 AM

does anyone know how to catch a crab?

thanks......kristian

props · #2 09-09-2005, 06:08 AM

tie up a small shrimp on a rubble put it inside a tall glass.. place it where the crab hangs out =o) he should jump right in

if its an acro crab use tweezers?

BCWolfen · #3 09-09-2005, 07:04 AM

I caught one when he crawled into a rock that was easily removed. I took it out and basicly dug him out of the hole.

Another I caught with 2 long pieces of 3/4" PVC joined with a 90 elbow. Not glued. I was lucky as this guy came out onto the rock at night to feed.
The bottom of the L was about 12" and the longer was my handle. I waited until he came out and slowly lowered my trap toward him. He hide a bit into the rocks. I placed the opening towards him and then drop a few sinking shrimp pellets down the tube. The freshwater kind for bottom feeders. I waited to allow them to start to dissolve and then squirted bits of water into the tube from a syringe. This allowed just enough current to waft the smell out towards him yet not allow the pellets to move from the elbow.

It took quite a while, but after many starts into the tube he finally went in. I quickly turned it and pressed the open side against the glass. Voila caught crab.

Not the easiest but kinda fun. LOL

Xtasia · #4 09-09-2005, 07:12 AM

Sorry I had to run K.. was going for Coffee with a friend..

try looking this up..
I heard you could trap crabs the way youy oculd trap mantis shrimp..

http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/pest/catch.htm

Good luck!

Ruth · #5 09-09-2005, 01:51 PM

I am going to follow along as well. I have a nasty black crab that I have been trying to capture with no success at all. I have tried the bottle technic with the bait inside - no luck. The panty hose propped open with bait inside - no luck. Fondue fork and tried stabbing the SOB - no luck. Cursing really really loudly - and well I might add - probably close to 2 minutes with no repeat words although some I tend to make up - no luck. Tearing my 230g with 450lbs of live rock is not an attractive option although when I get my 190 set up and start transferring some stuff I may have to do this..........grrrrrrr......I hate crabs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

geopod · #6 09-10-2005, 01:49 AM

I hope you catch your crab......that sounds funny.I hate hitch hiker crabs caus eyou never know how bad they are until you start seeing things missing in your tank that have been there for a while then you find the culprit lurking in the dark.Waiting fro you to turn out the lights to come out and rip up your tank.I found a few at home and I still havent been able to get them They seem to stay in the holes, But like Ruth says I am not about to tear apart the tank.How about a pellet gun????Or a piece of fish tied to a fishhook and some line and drop it in till he comes and nabs it then pull him out or catch him once hes' out of the rick?Hey it worked for me when I was in Whiterock whenwe were catching dungenous crabs ...yeh I know not supposed to..

Salinity Now · #7 09-10-2005, 06:28 AM

The inverted pop bottle trick works like a hot damn for me. Here is a photo of all the parts that you'll need. I use an empty pilsner glass

(works better that way), an elastic band and a 500ml plastic pop bottle. You need to cut the pop bottle to creat a funnel like this.

I also cut two notches in the base of the funnel so that the elastic securely holds it into the pilsner glass like so.

Here is a photo taken with the trap in place. I knew where that bugger was hiding, so I just leaned it against his favorite hiding spot and added some irresistible mysis shrimp for bait.

Sorry about the algae folks, I'm still curing some Vanuatu rock.

The next morning I found somebody happily chewing away on that nice juicy piece of shrimp. He unfortunately knew his fate. Just look at the fear in his eyes.

Fear not fellow reefers, the masked reefer has sympathy for his fellow dark denizens of the night. He has however been banished to the fuge for "behavioural modifications".

Hopefully that helps you out Kristian

possitive k · #8 09-11-2005, 03:17 AM

thanks for the tips. i put the bottle trap in today, hope i can catch him

untamed · #9 09-12-2005, 10:14 PM

I caught mine with the same method. It took less than 1/2 hour for the greedy guy to take the bait. In my case, I used a glass jigger. Even though the jigger was no more than 2" deep, he couldn't get out once he slid down.

tcollin · #10 09-13-2005, 02:48 AM

We have one of those litte buggers in our 5gal reef. Aside from some algae and maybe a snail (we're not too sure) we haven't had any issues with it, as we have no fish yet to bother it. What was it eating in your tank? what kind of damage was it doing? Is it predatious? We have a peppermint shrimp, a few snails and a handful of hermit crabs, along with two Zoo colonies and a pair of mushrooms. We had a bunch of isopods that hitched along with the live rock, so we won't be adding any fish until towards November when we know they've been eradicated. when we do put in some fish, they won't be very big. I realize this may seem like a ramble, but we've been trying to find out what kind of crab this is on the net and through the local LFS's and library.