I thought the decorator crab was a perfect addtition to my 70 gallon reef tank and when the store said it would not harm any thing else I took it. It disapeard very quick and started covering himself and I could not find him until I added a coral banded shrimp and as soon as it went in a rocky arm snathed it from the life rock and devoued him untill nothing was left but a leg. Now I am finding missing fish and I cant get him out because I cant find him at all except at night but he is pretty fast. Going to have to clear out everything to take him out before he destroyes alot of money. Anyone else have a decorator crab and have had problems?
2006-09-22 15:58:25 · 5 answers · asked by eric s 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
There are traps that you can buy and bait with food. I would suggest getting an old margarine tub, gut an X in the top, and push the sides inwards, put a fresh shrimp in it and wait until he goes in to eat. It should be fairly easy to cover the top once he is in as he will think he is fairly safe in there.
I had a problem with a wrasse in my tank, It is not a reef tank, and i keep a large number of invertebrates. The pet store assured me it would be fine, but every time something molted, it was dinner. Since then I do a lot of research on the net and in salt water chat room before I buy anything. I had to remove everything to catch the bugger, but as I said, at least it wasn't a reef tank.
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2006-09-23 02:31:44 · answer #1 · answered by iceni 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well yes - it is a common problem and I've had the same problem with starfish FYI. When my baby trigger was sleeping in a shell on the floor of the tank the starfish must have nabbed him. I was *SO* mad I took him back to the store the next day and they actually replaced my trigger fish. So if I were you I'd pack up the crab, take him back to the store and say - "hey, I was told this guy wouldn't harm my tank or its inhabitants but so far I've witnessed him kill 1 shrimp and have noticed other "missing" fish since I introduced him to my tank." Make sure to mention that you were told he would not do such a thing. Sorry about that but hey it is nature right? It's too bad the pet store didn't know enough to tell you. Sometimes its better to do your own research. Maybe they will be nice and replace your shrimp - or at the very least take the damn crab off your hands.
2006-09-23 12:12:45 · answer #2 · answered by Soramdara 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same thing happen to me a few years ago. I was also told by the pet store they woudn't do any harm to my fish, Boy they where wrong. that crab tore fins and tails and killed a couple of fish before I got him out.
2006-09-22 23:24:45 · answer #3 · answered by cin_ann_43 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry no experince with those crabs, just stupid pet store emploees! I don't belive a word they say, if I see a fish I want I go home and research it on the net first then if it's compatiable I go back! I'd catch him and fast! Then return him to the pet store!
2006-09-22 23:05:25 · answer #4 · answered by pharfly1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yap its dangerous you must keep them separately.
2006-09-23 05:06:53 · answer #5 · answered by Charitha L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋