Crab Killer? UPDATE: CAPTURED + with pics
 

First of all I'm not a sadist, that being said I've tried everything to rid my tank of hitch hiker crabs & have been about 85% successful. Some are in the sump area but most went down the toilet. Today I had a bit of a revelation when it came to my laser pointer that I use to point things out when showing people the tank. It can shine into just about any nook in the tank & where I can never catch crabs, I thought about the fact that laser's all come with a warning not to look at or shine into the eyes, so I'm wondering if shining it into the eyes of a zoanthid eating crab, may lead to the death of the m'er f'er? I wonder if a blind or sick crab may just die off saving some of the coral. Laser beams always work in sci-fi movies... right?

lol, ive actually used a laser pointer as a "flashlight" to look around the tank at night. Wether or not it can be used as a weapon not sure. Youd prob want to upgrade to a more powerful beam like this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=680xwwEs7Lg

I don't know about the laser blinding it, but if you can see it with the laser perhaps you can you get a long pointed tool (like that thingy you use to truss up a turkey) and stab it. I've got several crabs with that thingy.

Yeah that may work if you can get your hand in the right position. Worth a try.

Unfortunately he is very fast & extremely cautious from the numerous attempts on his life. I used a filed down coat hanger. Now he is in a place where you can only see him through the lower front of the tank. I will try the laser tonight, if it disorientates him I may be able to skewer him.

That's awesome! LOL. Yes with that one victory would be immanent!

Set up a 20g mantis tank. You should be able to move most pieces of live rock into that with the crab. :D

Update:
A laser pointer into the eye's at night does not disorient a crab enough, leading to his capture. I came home from work yesterday in the broad daylight & snapped at him from behind, managing to snap off one of his legs. Unfortunately he's consumed probably 60 zoa head's in the last week since the original post. today my wife has gone to an all day yoga-thon which means..... I'm gonna kick some crab ass!

if hes in a crack shoot some boiling water in there and cook his ass!

How would you do that? Just with a turkey baster?

turkey baster probalby would burn your hand a bit , a large bore syringe would work ( one without a needle kinda deal)

How close, is to close to coral's to be trying this? & where can you buy a huge syringe?

Okay, now this is bad. I set up a trap, a glass with the zoa's about half way down inside... baited with his favorite zoa's (luckily the only one's he's eating) we're just watching TV and guess who is looking hungry again. This crab is only about the size of a quarter, & he's eaten probably 15 heads today already. So he's sitting on the edge of the glass trying to size up the situation, & very weary of it all. He wanted them so bad, he started to pinch & move the edge of the glass before backing off like it was to risky to try going for them. Now is it just me who thought crabs were not smart or is this guy just srcewing with me. There is obviously worry on his part about the smoothness of the glass, it was like he didn't feel safe leaving the rough surface of the rock. Has this happened to anyone else???? WTF

When I got home today I felt like I had won a small lottery. Here are some pic's of a crab who polished off close to 100 Zoa's in a matter of day's. He seemed to have discriminating taste though, as he could done far worse. Hopefully someone may be able to ID Him. He was not the ugliest hitch hiker I pulled, but by far the worst. He has gone to a better place now... :) :) :)
http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/a...26/crab001.jpg
http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/a...26/crab002.jpg
http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/a...26/crab003.jpg

its cute!

Where is this better place? Can any one go there! :lol:

Good job on the capture , I think the better place was probably a blender !

Set to Puree I hope! :twised:

May I take him?

Sorry Jackie, & not a blender just the toilet.

Should have blender'd him and added him to your coral food :twised:

kind of looks like the baby robots from the movie Batteries Not Included except it won't put your house back together.

lol coral food , the irony of it all !

I wish I had thought of that,it would been more satisfying!