The Monster

[chromiumlux]

837

Well, I was walking past the tank this morning and caught him out of the corner of my eye. A rare glimpse of this dude as he is usually hidden in his lair. He will make a nice sump critter for the 150g.

[TechGuy40]

Woah creepy! I need to find out what is making the sharp "click" in my tank at night suddenly.

[jeremyreef]

nice pic...crazy looking little guy. :shocked:

[marinelife]

I want it!!

[reefer3737]

he is cool

[Sunshine]

That is one freaky looking critter.

[Aquatic Specialists]

Woah creepy! I need to find out what is making the sharp "click" in my tank at night suddenly.

Pistol Shrimp

[TechGuy40]

Pistol Shrimp

Yeah, but how? I never got one, I wanted to. Its only at night. Sounds like a glass thermometer banging on the glass, but its not.

[marinelife]

new rock or corals? It may have been in some rock and has finally grown. I got one once in a coral I purchased.

[Aquatic Specialists]

There are several different species. Some hitchhike in.

[chromiumlux]

:smilie_067: Bring that pistol shrimp over here and I will put it in with this here crab.

[TechGuy40]

Nothing new in 6 months or so. You could have it Andy, if I could find it.

[marinelife]

So do you think you can get out the crab? or are you going to sump it in the new tank?

[Aquatic Specialists]

I would harpoon that dude! But he is kind of cool looking, the warehouse sold one to a guy for $40.00 to put in his reef, said they were ultra rare. Maybe you could get some credit for him...lol. I would sump it, way to cool too kill.

[chromiumlux]

So far it does not appear to be bothering corals, but man I got a pile of snail shells behind the reef. Like a hobo tossing aside tin cans. I plan to sump this dude if possible. No way to get at him, and the rock is so porous inside he has the ultimate house. Only way would be to tear down andt that isn't happening until the 150's up.

[marinelife]

He is a nice looking crab, good to leave in the sump for clean up.

[jeremyreef]

but man I got a pile of snail shells behind the reef. Like a hobo tossing aside tin cans.

:yb624: a reef hitch hiking, snail o holic, hobo crab.

[chromiumlux]

Yeah, and I just added 10 more astreas for cleanup. So far this dude has not gotten to em yet. When they are done up top and go lower they will probably end up in the shell pile. Sad to say it, but its life.

[ghurlag]

That crab is "bad ***." Too bad he's so destructive. Andy, is this the guy that takes chalice frags and uses them for his front door?

[chromiumlux]

Yeah this is the one that likes frag plugs too. So far I dont see any signs of damage to any of my corals other than the occasional frag plug of zoas or the plate being dragged over the lair. Funny little dude.

[reefer3737]

I wouldnt get rid of him,if he's not missing with your corals.he to cool,im sure must of us want him

[chromiumlux]

Yeah, he is neat now that he's 10x larger than the first time I saw him. I will be keeping an eye on him. I did watch him rubbing his legs in the sand, got the particles stuck to his hairs and disappeared into his cave. My guess is he uses his hairyness as a feeding tool. Pretty neat!

[hdelectraglide]

That dude is crazy, Is he the one who uses the plate coral as a door

[chromiumlux]

Yeah, he has an affinity with frag plugs, flat corals, snails, empty shells...ect...

[aquatic mouse]

If you ever get rid of him...I'd love him for my galaxea tank!

[marinelife]

Hey now I called it first :)

[chromiumlux]

Yeah Eric did call dibs on it.

[marinelife]

She can have it if she wants it :)
Atleast it would be seen

[Sunshine]

awwww He's such a cutie, all that hair and a face only a mother could love ..

[GenesisReefSystems]

Now that little guy is cool! Is it a gorilla crab? If so, I've never seen one like it. I'm with everyone else... keep him! Is he eating the hermit crabs and snails in your tank though?

TechGuy - that clicking may be a mantis shrimp. Years ago I had a basher variety that got into my tank as a stowaway on some live rock. It was silent during the day, but then got crazy when the all the lights in the room went out. The bad part was the tank was right above the headboard on my bed! It sounded like the glass was going to shatter with each crack of his claw. Couldn't figure out what the heck was making all the racket until after about a month of interrupted sleep I decided to use a red light to finally determine the exact source. I found him just smashing away at a rock, no reason at all except to make noise, apparently. I couldn't catch him, and he was kind of cool, so I lived with it. He was growing by leaps and bounds, but unfortunately the empty hermit crab shells kept piling up too. I sold the tank when I moved, and the person I sold it to said they wouldn't kill him either - but may move him to the sump if they could find out which rock he was living in.

[TechGuy40]

Oh man I have tried and tried with the red light. Nothing. Every night like clockwork though, click click click...

[Neogenesis]

I've also hear my crabs shells "click" again the glass when they crawl along it. Depending on the size of the crab, it's a possibility.

Scott

[chromiumlux]

155915581557

Got him!!!! Same rock my tang was stuck in. Now I know what happened.

[marinelife]

wow wow wow, that looks big
you picking in the refugium?

[jess]

Nasty looking fellow RIP kole tang.

[ghurlag]

Congrats on finally catching the guy!

[chromiumlux]

Yeah he was up to his old antics trying to use a chalice for a door again...lol. I beleive he did in my kole tang. Same rock the tang was stuck in when I found him.

[aquatic mouse]

Congrats on catching him! I wish I still had the 20g as a saltwater. I want him! Sorry about your tang. Poor thing.

[chromiumlux]

This guy has morphed into a fish killing eating machine. Personally, I would not recommend putting this dude in a tank with any fish you can not live without. This guy is sump material.

[marinelife]

Carrie could put it in her fish only :)

[aquatic mouse]

Does he eat copepods or cheato? If not, I'll be ready for him soon!!!

[nate21887]

That's one wicked looking little guy!

[chromiumlux]

Yeah this dood wil smash anything meaty. that inclucdes pods carrie. He dont eat the cheato, but will pick the critters off of it.

[nate21887]

Get him some feeder mollies, that ought to give him a good distraction from destroying your pod population.

[chromiumlux]

Thanks for the idea nate, but this guy gets his squares when I feed the main tank.

[nate21887]

Gotcha, how big will he get?

[chromiumlux]

Not sure how big he will get, but he is probably 10x the size he was when I first seen him and he was a cute little furry critter.....lol

[aquatic mouse]

If I can still have him, I'll build a divider for him. He can have his own separate area. :)

[chromiumlux]

well, soon as you get your sump running, you can come get him.

[aquatic mouse]

well, soon as you get your sump running, you can come get him.

:yay: :da_best:

[aquatic mouse]

The monster is all set up in his little Tetra Water Wonders Aquarium (http://www.petsolutions.com/storefront/fish/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-systems/mini-acrylic-systems/tetra-water-wonders-aquarium-kit/prodTetraWaterWondersAquariumKit.html). He seems happy. I acclimated him and put him in. He ran right over to the cave I made him and hung upside down. :) He got a piece of scallop yesterday, and it's gone, but I don't know if he ate it or the gigantic bristle worm that I saw in there. It's got to be at least 5 inches long! Thanks Andy for my new pet! Pictures will be coming when he feels like coming out.

[chromiumlux]

Your welcome Carrie! Sorry to have strained your sanity with having to wait for him....lol. Look forward to seeing him in his new home.

[marinelife]

:poster_kewlpics:

[rayviv]

837

Well, I was walking past the tank this morning and caught him out of the corner of my eye. A rare glimpse of this dude as he is usually hidden in his lair. He will make a nice sump critter for the 150g.

What is it?

[aquatic mouse]

Teddy Bear Crab

[chromiumlux]

Pics???

[nate21887]

Yea pics? I wanna see this beast.

[aquatic mouse]

He's hiding and I don't wanna bother him until he's ready to come out on his own. I don't want to stress him. I'm trying to get him to come out by bribing him with scallops and shrimp. So far, no dice. But I'm hopeful.

[chromiumlux]

Chances are he will seldom be seen out in the open. He will need some time to get used to the new pad....lol.

[nate21887]

From his appetite from Andys I'm surprised he didn't jump all over them meaty delights. Lol

[chromiumlux]

Is the snail still kickin' in the tank with him?

[aquatic mouse]

The astrea snail is gone, but he's still roomies w/ those baby snails from your tank, baby asterinastarfish, and the gigantic bristle worm from Hell.

[rayviv]

and the gigantic bristle worm from Hell. :dftt:

Funny Mouse

[aquatic mouse]

Hercules loves Hikari pellets :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be-iPyA0Bvs


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HLGOdvRbQ0

[marinelife]

He is very cool!!!

[aquatic mouse]

He is very cool!!!

I like him. :) The part where he's walking up the wall, and remembers the pellet in his claw cracks me up.

[chromiumlux]

Wow! Looks like he has grown since you got him from me. Look at those claws! Glad he is happy in his new home.

[aquatic mouse]

He looks a lot bigger to me, but I've never seen a molt. Maybe he eats it?

[chromiumlux]

Never seen him eat it in my tank. When he does molt again dont freak. It will look like the dude died. Dont forget to toss him some fresh meat every now and again.

[aquatic mouse]

Dont forget to toss him some fresh meat every now and again.

Oh he does! He gets scallop, clam, and shrimp. Pellets are just fun to watch.

[rayviv]

How big is he? It is hard to tell w/o a reference.

Is it big enough to boil? Fresh crab. Nothing like it! who said dat? :imoksmiley:

[aquatic mouse]

He's about 3 inches wide.

[aquatic mouse]

Hercules got an upgrade. He's in a 3g Pico tank now. I'm not sure if I should fill it all the way. I'm afraid he'll climb out. He's on the far right side in the pics.

22402241

[marinelife]

nice tank, He should like that!

[aquatic mouse]

It was Andy's tank. I think I'm going to add a red light to it. I've read that crabs can't see red light, and since he's nocturnal, it would make it easier to see him active.

[marinelife]

yeah do not forget to have a white light for some daylight

[aquatic mouse]

He gets daylight from the windows. Do you think he needs more? He's always hiding when the lights are on.

[marinelife]

maybe not but he needs sleep time :)

[chromiumlux]

dont forget water changes and aereation.

[aquatic mouse]

Yep, he's got a air stone, and I change about 1/4 of the water twice a week.

[marinelife]

How is the crab?

[aquatic mouse]

Funny you should ask. I took a picture of him yesterday to share. He shed earlier in the week, now he's really cute and fuzzy. <3

2282

[marinelife]

He is still looking cool as ever!!

[aquatic mouse]

Thank you. He's my little buddy.

[aquatic mouse]

:cry: Hercules the teddy bear crab passed away last night.

I don't know what happened. Maybe old age? I don't know. He was eating and acting normal. Maybe the tank got too warm in the bedroom. :badday:

[marinelife]

:( its not just a molt?

:a055:

[aquatic mouse]

No. He just molted the other week. I'm really torn up about it. He was my little buddy.

[marinelife]

well poo :(

[Neogenesis]

No. He just molted the other week. I'm really torn up about it. He was my little buddy.

I know exactly how you feel, I'm still missing Mr. Blue Spot.

Scott

[dogfytr]

that sucks sorry

[rayviv]

what eric said.

[Sunshine]

So sorry. He was a cool creature, freaky looking, but cool.

[rayviv]

was there any changes in perimeters that might have caused his demise?

[aquatic mouse]

I think it was the heat. I didn't realize that room got so hot during the day. I don't usually go in the bedroom during the day. Yesterday I put a thermometer in there around 5pm and it was 86. I can only imagine how hot it gets during the heat of the day. I feel so bad about it.

[marinelife]

A.C. can be your friend during these hot times :)

[aquatic mouse]

The bedroom is over the garage. Horrible insulation. It's 75 in the rest of the house.

[chromiumlux]

Bummer on that lil fella's demise.