How To Catch A Crab ?

[yoz0807]

This might seem like a bit of a silly question but how do you catch a crab?

I have a red claw crab that came with my tank, I didnt particularly want him but I couldn't see the previous owner'dispose' of him.
Whilst he has been quite amusing over the last couple of weeks, it is getting near the time to transfer the fish from my other tank which includes a number of cory's / bottom feeders.

The problem is that I have a large bog wood centre piece ( which Mr crab lives under) and the tank is set up nicely at the moment so I dont want to have to strip everything out.

Are there any tips or tricks to catching him?

I was thinking of trying to make some kind of lobster pot

 

[bae1994]

get a jam jar clean it then put some frozen food in it

tilt the jam jar so the crab can get in it so berrie the the bottom in the sand so hell crawl in and then wont be able to get out as the glass is slippy

 

[youngfisher]

Agree with bae. But keep an eye on it, as your fish will be interested aswell!

Make sure the glass is tilted so it carnt just walk out, put a peice of prawn etc. in it, but change daily if not caught, as it will cause ammonia. If it was me, I would put it in at night when lights are out, take it out in the morning when lights come on, as some crabs feel more comfortable in the dark. - Then repeat the next night until caught, but keep replacing the Prawn as it will leak ammonia.

 

[yoz0807]

Thanks for the replies.
Will give that a try.

 

[yoz0807]

Well he seems to have got wind of what I was planning !

Just popped home at lunch time, opened the cupboard under the fishtank an the little beggar made me jump out of my skin

He had climbed out of the tank, some how, and was sat there waiting for me.

I have just taken him to the LFS and the lady there said they once had one climb out of the tank, escape through the front door and head off down the street before a passer by came in to say they had just seen a crab walking down the street and was it theirs !

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

lol that is quite amusing

 

[saltynay]

If your feeling brave you can wave your hand infront of their face to keep the occupied and sneak behind them and catch them by under the back of the shell (semi dangerous of getting a nip) or push the top of the shell into the substrate and pick it up in the centre of the legs on the side ridge of the shell. They are great escape artists though as you found out.

 

[raptorrex]

This might seem like a bit of a silly question but how do you catch a crab?

I have a red claw crab that came with my tank, I didnt particularly want him but I couldn't see the previous owner'dispose' of him.
Whilst he has been quite amusing over the last couple of weeks, it is getting near the time to transfer the fish from my other tank which includes a number of cory's / bottom feeders.

The problem is that I have a large bog wood centre piece ( which Mr crab lives under) and the tank is set up nicely at the moment so I dont want to have to strip everything out.

Are there any tips or tricks to catching him?

I was thinking of trying to make some kind of lobster pot

shame that, crabs dont worry, even cory. they are mainly veg eaters, lol and have no spheres for a fight. but they should be kept in a LAND based environment, with brackish water. so perhaps taking it back is best.