Hitchhiker ID

[Sport507]

This guy came in a live rock I bought when I first set my tank up 3 months ago. I thought it had died this morning and was hanging from it's hiding spot. But upon further inspection I think it molted and is still in the tank (maybe). I say that because there was nothing in the shell. Is this a Mithrax crab and if so is it a problem child? It's about a 1-/14" wide.

http://myplace.frontier.com/~res8dhg7/rc/tank%20crab.jpg

[100%hydrophylic]

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html

look under mithrax. looks kinda like the last one

[Wrobel278]

I have read in the past that black pointy claws usually mean that the crab is a carnivore.

[T-dub]

Looks like maybe a stone crab to me and yes, you want him out.

[Hoolagan]

Yep looks like a baby stone crab. that little guy can do some damage.

[Ilovesalt]

looks like a stone crab to me.

[Sport507]

It now looks like this dude is going to be trouble, it has double in size. Just a while ago it was running around with a hermit shell (hermit in it) in a claw. Manage to fight him off with a yard stick.

Any ideas on how to get him out?

[Angel*Fish]

Crab trap if you think he'll take the bait :) Can his rock be removed with him on it?

[Sport507]

Crab trap if you think he'll take the bait :) Can his rock be removed with him on it?

Well the rock he like is at the bottom of the tank and of course supporting the rocks above.

I just read on another site that you can us a drinking glass put meaty food in the bottom and lean it up against the rock. When he goes in it will be to slick to get out. Has anyone tryed this?? Sounds plausible.

[GerritM]

Hi!
Looks like a Atergatis floridus.

[wright4941]

+1 on the stone crab-get him out of there!

[davelinks]

i found one of these things in my 180 gallon like 4 inches wide, absolutely no idea where he came from, surprised the poopy outta me haha. pretty creepy. get em out

[cside]

Atergatis floridus. im pretty sure its not a stone crab. i just removed a baby stone crab from my 29g. it looked like this

[muttley000]

Well the rock he like is at the bottom of the tank and of course supporting the rocks above.

I just read on another site that you can us a drinking glass put meaty food in the bottom and lean it up against the rock. When he goes in it will be to slick to get out. Has anyone tryed this?? Sounds plausible.

I had a similar crab in my live rock, and the glass trick worked for me. I used a tall glass with a piece of shrimp in the bottom. Had him the next morning. He happily lives in my fuge now:bigeyes:

[Wichers]

Ive heard of many people using glasses to get crabs out.

[eyeluvcoral]

+1 on the stone crab. I've heard that the drinking glass trick works well.

[lokian]

glass trick works.... i went hunting for 2 larger crabs and got 2 smaller ones instead... just waiting on more shrimp to come in ;) ...

[israel.kendall]

Sometimes the drinking glass doesn't work. If it doesn't then you can try to lure it out with a turkey baster full of mysis. Turkey baster in one hand, tongs or sharp knife in the other hand, worked for me.

[Sport507]

He's out of there!!!!! WoooooHooooo! Last evening I took a big tall beer glass the kind that is wide at the top and very narrow at the bottom with a heavy base. The glass is probably about 10" tall. I took a frag disk and rubber banded 2 large pcs. of krill to it and droped it in the bottom of the glass (it completely cover the bottom). I took the glass brace in the corner of the tank and leaned it into the rocks on about a 60 degree angle. Low and behold guess who greated me this morning all bright eyed and bushy tailed, if not majorly PO'd. He is probably about 1-1/2" accross the back/shell.

[thump9]

We like pics around here...is he photosensitive ? lol

[Sport507]

We like pics around here...is he photosensitive ? lol

He'll do what I tell him now that I'm in control. Guess I could grab him out of the 10gal. QT, chuck him in the bottom of the glass, throw the frag disk on top of him and a hermit on top of the frag disk like I found it. Photo the capture and show that it did work. LOL

[Sport507]

Now in solitary confinement.

http://myplace.frontier.com/~res8dhg7/rc/weapons.JPG
Weapons used.

http://myplace.frontier.com/~res8dhg7/rc/killer.JPG
The Killer.

By the way if you want to catch one of your fish. Last evening every fish I have but the tangs were in that glass at some point in time. Even a 4-5" fox face.

[IMM3DOORSDOWN]

lol thats how it goes!!!!! everyone will tell you the same. everything you dont want.you'll get.


patience,patience,patience. you'll get the pain out!!!!!!