Catching a rogue crab

[likwid]

Originally Posted by The Codfather

Hasn't done any damage.......yet. Don't leave him, sooner or later, he will start doing damage. I had a few unwilling to come quietly, patience was the key, try feeding a lot less frequently, sooner or later they have to come out to feed. I had to check in the middle of the night with a flashlight, but always seemed to catch them. Thanks,
Bob

How do you catch them when they are feeding though? The only time I see him feeding, his body is almost completely hidden, and I can just see a claw reach out to pick stuff off the rock. Like I said, he is lightning quick, there is no way I can catch him without a trap of some sort.

[Newtoreef]

I heard if you cut off the bottom of a pop bottle bury the lid in the sand with the open bottom propt up on a rock, and zap strap some bait down in it in a media sock he will go in and not be able to get out.
I've also caught a huge rock crap out of my 140 gal with "the trap" and piece of prawn and some patience. I've caught another out of my smaller display by watching where his hiding spot is and take the whole rock out with him in it, then I fished him out of the rock with a coat hanger. not very pretty but got the job done, was tired of losing all my clean up crew to the little marauder.

[mandarin man]

when I started my RSM tank, there were many stone crabs in the live rocks. I tried to you jar and bait to lure them in, but it wasnot successful. Eventually, I spot and pick taking the live rock out knowing where it was. I managed to take them out one by one. It took me a couple of weeks to remove all of them. Stone crabs will eat and kill snails and hermit crabs...it is wise to take them out..

[The Codfather]

[quote]How do you catch them when they are feeding though? The only time I see him feeding, his body is almost completely hidden, and I can just see a claw reach out to pick stuff off the rock. Like I said, he is lightning quick, there is no way I can catch him without a trap of some sort./QUOTE]

I caught the crabs using a large piece of shrimp tied to a rock. I would place it close to the glass away from the rock work, just after lights out. This way the shrimp could only eat so much, the fish would leave it alone, and after a few days of feeding light it was quite easy to catch the crabs in the open. The only problem was the waiting game, it took several nights, but i no longer have any. Thanks,
Bob

[Newtoreef]

Use his hiding spot as a trap he will dart into a hole then just take the whole rock he's hiding in. Worked for me on one occasion.

[likwid]

Thanks for the advice guys, it was very informative. I will try a few of those ideas and let you know.