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View Full Version : trapping a large crab?


tankfly
09/05/2006, 03:41 PM
I'm sure I have a fairly large crab in a 55 gal reef that I maintain at the school where my wife works. I believe it is about the size of a silver dollar. I recently removed a crab molt that was about one inch across. Also, a couple of healthy fish have recently dissappeared.

Has anyone tried one of these?

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AM-70325&Category_Code=

I have nevr seen it since the tank is at a school so I can't bee there at night.

FishyBiz
09/05/2006, 03:50 PM
Just set a big glass cup (tilted up against the rocks) on the bottom with food in it. He will come out at night to get the food and be trapped once he slides in...... done deal!

jeffbrig
09/05/2006, 03:54 PM
I've had good luck in the past with a tall novelty shot glass. Bait it with a piece of shrimp and lean it against a rock near the crab. Usually within 1-2 hours I've caught the crab. I pulled 5 or 6 various crabs out using this method, up to about 1.5".

Lately I've been battling with a much larger crab. He's well over 2.5", with freakin' huge claws. I tried a larger drinking glass, but he didn't fall for it, even after leaving it in the tank overnight. I might have to go spearfishing when I see him out in the open.... I've had one attempt to far but wasn't able to pierce his thick carapace.



Edit: ran down some old pics of my crab trapping:

http://home.comcast.net/~jbrigman/pics/crab_trap_full.jpg


http://home.comcast.net/~jbrigman/pics/reddish_crab.jpg

tankfly
09/05/2006, 04:03 PM
thanks, I haven't thought about a tall glass. I'll try it.