Bev, I did a water change last night, my water looked the same. I have one crab, about the size of a dime. I don't think it made the water dirty. I also have food escape the tank each feeding due to flow, not overfeeding. I've had hermits in my sump for 6 months now, they appear to be doing fine. The nasty crab in my main tank also appears to be doing well without any direct feeding, although if I ever see it, I'll try to feed it something directly.

pic please
 

Tristan
can you post a pic of that mean crab? or provide a detailed description? I have one big mean looking crab in my tank so I was wondering if they have any similarities.
Thanks

[quote="Beverly"][quote="Johnny Reefer"]No, I can't tell you that. Because it is probably more than just two fish and two cleaner shrimp poop. Of course there is going to be some crab poop there, too. But just some, not most, IMHO. I agree with Christy, also, in that there are other contributors to detritus. The LR, for sure, must contribute some. Also, to partially quote the definition of detritus in the glossary of Eric Borneman's "Aquarium Coarls" book..."detritus:....composed primarily of dead algae, coral mucus and animal waste....". He doesn't mention LR being a contributor, but I'm sure it must.

As for the nuisance algae, let's not forget that the crab was in the tank the whole time and the originator of this thread did not complain of this.

All I'm saying is justification for the killing of the crab, when a sump is available, is just not there. IMO.

Cheers,

I can actually sit and watch detritus being pushed out of the rock by critters living inside the pores. Also, watch snails, they're poop machines!! 1 crab will NOT fill a 5g bucket with fish poop water as pictured above, regardless of size or diet!!
The entire eco system contributes to the bioload. This means pods, worms, fish and crabs. I gaurantee removal of any crab isn't going to clean up the detrtus in a tank!!

OK as far as my experience with a CBB and crabs, I got some live rock over a year ago that was full of crabs. Trapped about 12 of them before I gave up, there were too many crabs to count. Then never bothered any corals or fish but they ****ed me off by eating the coralline algae.

Since I got my CBB about 2 months ago I have seen no more crabs at all. I presume the CBB hunted them all down. But I thought CBB's only ate smaller stuff.

BTW shadowboy,
Hope things work out re: your CBB. Looking forward to hearing a feel good story, in the end.

Cheers,

well this post really took off eh? left the post at 6 replies and now its up to 25! all you night owls posting at 2 am. Chin the crab looks like a squat llobster/porcelin crab. Two large front brown claws tucked underneath its "chin" the rest of the body is white, looks like the crabs at the beach in van if you pick up a rock. hes a little bit bigger than a toonie. I'm starting to put the puzzle together, I've lost a yellow clown goby and a watchman goby mysteriously, with no remains. both we healthy and well fed, but overnight....gone. I've seen close to 10 crabs in my tank, and they havent caused to much harm, a couple have red eyes though kinda creepy. Im not goin to go to all the hassle of hunting them all down, i just think that that would casue more stress to the fish and corals, than leavin them. I have mostly bigger fish now, and a big ass checkerboard wrasse that will keep them in check ( thanks gobigirl)

thanks for all the posts, the CBB isnt looking any better and still isnt feeding. Hope for the best

tristan

and petcrazy Im working on the other "crab problem" no thanks to you :-)

Tristan,

Sorry to hear the CBB isn't feeding :sad: Hope there is a happy ending for your beloved fish :smile:

Here's a thread on crab traps. IME, the red eyed ones are easy to trap with meaty foods:

http://www.canreef.com/phpBB2/viewto...ight=crab+trap

Im happy to say that my butterfly is eating again! I starved her for 2 days after she would even look at the food. Everything is healed up, with a little scaring. The last couple of days she has pig her heart out on mysis and my tubeworms (sigh) She is looking excellent. thanks for all the help

tristan

Hooray!!! Can't wait to see your tank in person next week!

Anthony & Irene