Crab did a bad thing

[Lavey29]

So one of my emerald crabs decided living in paradise wasn't enough for him and committed the worst act of treachery against me. He munched down about 25% of a nice orange setosa colony. I caught him in the act of committing the crime but of course catching him in the rocks is impossible.

So the coral is still very healthy. Will the portions that he stripped bare eventually regenerate new polyps possibly?

Does anyone have a micro spear gun?

 

[TX_REEF]

So one of my emerald crabs decided living in paradise wasn't enough for him and committed the worst act of treachery against me. He munched down about 25% of a nice orange setosa colony. I caught him in the act of committing the crime but of course catching him in the rocks is impossible.

So the coral is still very healthy. Will the portions that he stripped bare eventually regenerate new polyps possibly?

Does anyone have a micro spear gun?

I caught mine devouring a healthy micromussa. They live in the sump now.

 

[Pod_01]

He munched down about 25% of a nice orange setosa colony.

Wow, do you have a picture.

One always hears that it can happen.

I do love Setosa but I have to say it is very temperamental coral. From my experience sometimes they are indestructible and month later you look at them the wrong way and they bleach.

Here is mine, couple months before it bleached:

 

[billyocean]

You could try using a red light flashlight at night to grab the perpetrator. It will make it easier to sneak up on

 

[Katrina71]

Those wooden skewers work (not me...but I know someone that did)

 

[Brazilian Reefer]

Good luck and keep us updated

 

[Syntax1235]

I’ve had luck with a tall shot glass with a bit of frozen food attached to a frag plug with an elastic. I place the frag plug at the bottom of the glass and lean it against the rocks at a steep angle. I’ve caught several crabs that way.

 

[JGT]

Same with me. But I had to use a stemless wine glass due to his girth

 

[TX_REEF]

Same with me. But I had to use a stemless wine glass due to his girth

There’s no way that’s an emerald crab???

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Same with me. But I had to use a stemless wine glass due to his girth

Old bay anyone?

 

[vetteguy53081]

So one of my emerald crabs decided living in paradise wasn't enough for him and committed the worst act of treachery against me. He munched down about 25% of a nice orange setosa colony. I caught him in the act of committing the crime but of course catching him in the rocks is impossible.

So the coral is still very healthy. Will the portions that he stripped bare eventually regenerate new polyps possibly?

Does anyone have a micro spear gun?

Hate to say but im not surprised nor have I ever trusted these going back to days of my LFS and seeing their unwelcomed behaviors. They dont even do a good job with bubble algae

 

[JGT]

There’s no way that’s an emerald crab???

No, it’s a spiny crab, or gorilla as we know them in the reefing world. But I tried everything to get him and the wine glass with bait finally got him.

 

[JGT]

Old bay anyone?

Was thinking a little melted butter or tartar sauce.

 

[Lavey29]

Wow, do you have a picture.

One always hears that it can happen.

I do love Setosa but I have to say it is very temperamental coral. From my experience sometimes they are indestructible and month later you look at them the wrong way and they bleach.

Here is mine, couple months before it bleached:

I'll get one tomorrow but I saw him earlier continuing to pick at it.

 

[Lavey29]

You could try using a red light flashlight at night to grab the perpetrator. It will make it easier to sneak up on

Yes I'll be using NVGs.

 

[Lavey29]

I’ve had luck with a tall shot glass with a bit of frozen food attached to a frag plug with an elastic. I place the frag plug at the bottom of the glass and lean it against the rocks at a steep angle. I’ve caught several crabs that way.

How does this work with hermits, shrimp and crabs in the tank? How would it catch the criminal crab and not the others?

 

[Syntax1235]

How does this work with hermits, shrimp and crabs in the tank? How would it catch the criminal crab and not the others?

Great question. I don’t know. I don’t have hermits or shrimp.

 

[CBonito]

Same with me. But I had to use a stemless wine glass due to his girth

Those things are SOBs!!!!!

 

[Lavey29]

You guys can see the damage he did to the base of the setosa. His claws were covered in orange like he was eating cheetos and when I tried to grab him with long tweezers he laughed at me.

 

[Troylee]

You guys can see the damage he did to the base of the setosa. His claws were covered in orange like he was eating cheetos and when I tried to grab him with long tweezers he laughed at me.

Mine loves torts! Every night she would climb one and eat polyps and flesh… after watching this go one I was gonna remove it but it died a few days later… thankfully?