Arrow headed crab - predatory behaviour?

[Knowleman]

My lad kept pestering me for the "cool" arrow headed crab he admired
whenever we visited the LFS. I eventually relented and ask the LFS
assistant if it was safe (she is normally pretty good with advice).
She said yes and assured me that it shouldn't bother fish, corals or
other inverts, being essentially a scavenger.

Now that "Twigs" is in the tank, we have noticed that he waves his
legs at any passing fish and often brushes them. With the size he is
now, that is not an issue, but is this a sign of predatory behaviour
that could be a problem down the line? Couldn't find much of use on a
Google search.

Other than that, he is a really interesting little guy to watch.

Anyone got any thoughts or experience?

[Dan Norgard]

Had mine for a Month with no problems...except that the Bristleworm
population has gone down.
Dan



"Knowleman" > wrote in message
om...
My lad kept pestering me for the "cool" arrow headed crab he admired
whenever we visited the LFS. I eventually relented and ask the LFS
assistant if it was safe (she is normally pretty good with advice).
She said yes and assured me that it shouldn't bother fish, corals or
other inverts, being essentially a scavenger.

Now that "Twigs" is in the tank, we have noticed that he waves his
legs at any passing fish and often brushes them. With the size he is
now, that is not an issue, but is this a sign of predatory behaviour
that could be a problem down the line? Couldn't find much of use on a
Google search.

Other than that, he is a really interesting little guy to watch.

Anyone got any thoughts or experience?

[David Young]

I had one for about 9 months. The first several months went just fine. As he
got bigger he got more agressive. I had to remove him when he stood about 6"
tall and I caught him reaching inside my anenome to remove food. I put him
in my FO tank and he grew a few more inches before he died.
Dave Young

"Knowleman" > wrote in message
om...
> My lad kept pestering me for the "cool" arrow headed crab he admired
> whenever we visited the LFS. I eventually relented and ask the LFS
> assistant if it was safe (she is normally pretty good with advice).
> She said yes and assured me that it shouldn't bother fish, corals or
> other inverts, being essentially a scavenger.
>
> Now that "Twigs" is in the tank, we have noticed that he waves his
> legs at any passing fish and often brushes them. With the size he is
> now, that is not an issue, but is this a sign of predatory behaviour
> that could be a problem down the line? Couldn't find much of use on a
> Google search.
>
> Other than that, he is a really interesting little guy to watch.
>
> Anyone got any thoughts or experience?

My lad kept pestering me for the "cool" arrow headed crab he admired
whenever we visited the LFS. I eventually relented and ask the LFS
assistant if it was safe (she is normally pretty good with advice).
She said yes and assured me that it shouldn't bother fish, corals or
other inverts, being essentially a scavenger.

Now that "Twigs" is in the tank, we have noticed that he waves his
legs at any passing fish and often brushes them. With the size he is
now, that is not an issue, but is this a sign of predatory behaviour
that could be a problem down the line? Couldn't find much of use on a
Google search.

Other than that, he is a really interesting little guy to watch.

Anyone got any thoughts or experience?


**********End Of Post*************

Were going back almost 30yrs here but my dad put one in his 55.
My room was in the basement next to the tanks and I did not sleep nights
thinking that thing was going come out of the tank and get me :)
anyway it tore up my rather large hermit crab and that was It I threw a fit and
it was sold that day.
Ya this was a long time ago but If I walk past a tank with one of those buggers in it I
still cringe :)

[Knowleman]

Day 2: caught the little sod "digging" pieces out of our anemone with
one of its legs then eating them. We couldn't believe it at first -
kids tought it was cleaning the anenome - but no, 5 miniutes
observation confirmed it was "snacking" by taking chunks out of it. He
is now in the quarantine tank and will be going back to the LFS
tomorrow :-(


> wrote in message >...
> My lad kept pestering me for the "cool" arrow headed crab he admired
> whenever we visited the LFS. I eventually relented and ask the LFS
> assistant if it was safe (she is normally pretty good with advice).
> She said yes and assured me that it shouldn't bother fish, corals or
> other inverts, being essentially a scavenger.
>
> Now that "Twigs" is in the tank, we have noticed that he waves his
> legs at any passing fish and often brushes them. With the size he is
> now, that is not an issue, but is this a sign of predatory behaviour
> that could be a problem down the line? Couldn't find much of use on a
> Google search.
>
> Other than that, he is a really interesting little guy to watch.
>
> Anyone got any thoughts or experience?
>
>
> **********End Of Post*************
>
> Were going back almost 30yrs here but my dad put one in his 55.
> My room was in the basement next to the tanks and I did not sleep nights
> thinking that thing was going come out of the tank and get me :)
> anyway it tore up my rather large hermit crab and that was It I threw a fit and
> it was sold that day.
> Ya this was a long time ago but If I walk past a tank with one of those buggers in it I
> still cringe :)

[PaulB]

I have seen small arrow crabs act as cleaners, with fish opening gills and
mouths for them while they feel all over the fish for parasites. When they
get larger, they can become more predatory and can kill small fish and
inverts.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/arrowcrabfaqs.htm


"Knowleman" > wrote in message
om...
> My lad kept pestering me for the "cool" arrow headed crab he admired
> whenever we visited the LFS. I eventually relented and ask the LFS
> assistant if it was safe (she is normally pretty good with advice).
> She said yes and assured me that it shouldn't bother fish, corals or
> other inverts, being essentially a scavenger.
>
> Now that "Twigs" is in the tank, we have noticed that he waves his
> legs at any passing fish and often brushes them. With the size he is
> now, that is not an issue, but is this a sign of predatory behaviour
> that could be a problem down the line? Couldn't find much of use on a
> Google search.
>
> Other than that, he is a really interesting little guy to watch.
>
> Anyone got any thoughts or experience?

[CapFusion]

Do you have a sump with alot of algae? Put him in there to much on those
algae.

CapFusion,...


"Knowleman" > wrote in message
om...
> Day 2: caught the little sod "digging" pieces out of our anemone with
> one of its legs then eating them. We couldn't believe it at first -
> kids tought it was cleaning the anenome - but no, 5 miniutes
> observation confirmed it was "snacking" by taking chunks out of it. He
> is now in the quarantine tank and will be going back to the LFS
> tomorrow :-(
>
>
> > wrote in message
> >...
>> My lad kept pestering me for the "cool" arrow headed crab he admired
>> whenever we visited the LFS. I eventually relented and ask the LFS
>> assistant if it was safe (she is normally pretty good with advice).
>> She said yes and assured me that it shouldn't bother fish, corals or
>> other inverts, being essentially a scavenger.
>>
>> Now that "Twigs" is in the tank, we have noticed that he waves his
>> legs at any passing fish and often brushes them. With the size he is
>> now, that is not an issue, but is this a sign of predatory behaviour
>> that could be a problem down the line? Couldn't find much of use on a
>> Google search.
>>
>> Other than that, he is a really interesting little guy to watch.
>>
>> Anyone got any thoughts or experience?
>>
>>
>> **********End Of Post*************
>>
>> Were going back almost 30yrs here but my dad put one in his 55.
>> My room was in the basement next to the tanks and I did not sleep nights
>> thinking that thing was going come out of the tank and get me :)
>> anyway it tore up my rather large hermit crab and that was It I threw a
>> fit and
>> it was sold that day.
>> Ya this was a long time ago but If I walk past a tank with one of those
>> buggers in it I
>> still cringe :)

[Knowleman]

Thanks for the advice, but that vandal is outa here. The good thing
about the LFS is that they allow you to return stock that doesn't work
out. They have good quarantine facilities for this and will even take
in sick fish and get them fixed up for you - kinda hospital service.
Not all LFSs are uncaring, irresponsible, ill-informed, money grabbing
crooks - just most of them :-)


"CapFusion" > wrote in message >...
> Do you have a sump with alot of algae? Put him in there to much on those
> algae.
>
> CapFusion,...
>
>
> "Knowleman" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Day 2: caught the little sod "digging" pieces out of our anemone with
> > one of its legs then eating them. We couldn't believe it at first -
> > kids tought it was cleaning the anenome - but no, 5 miniutes
> > observation confirmed it was "snacking" by taking chunks out of it. He
> > is now in the quarantine tank and will be going back to the LFS
> > tomorrow :-(
> >
> >
> > > wrote in message
> > >...
> >> My lad kept pestering me for the "cool" arrow headed crab he admired
> >> whenever we visited the LFS. I eventually relented and ask the LFS
> >> assistant if it was safe (she is normally pretty good with advice).
> >> She said yes and assured me that it shouldn't bother fish, corals or
> >> other inverts, being essentially a scavenger.
> >>
> >> Now that "Twigs" is in the tank, we have noticed that he waves his
> >> legs at any passing fish and often brushes them. With the size he is
> >> now, that is not an issue, but is this a sign of predatory behaviour
> >> that could be a problem down the line? Couldn't find much of use on a
> >> Google search.
> >>
> >> Other than that, he is a really interesting little guy to watch.
> >>
> >> Anyone got any thoughts or experience?
> >>
> >>
> >> **********End Of Post*************
> >>
> >> Were going back almost 30yrs here but my dad put one in his 55.
> >> My room was in the basement next to the tanks and I did not sleep nights
> >> thinking that thing was going come out of the tank and get me :)
> >> anyway it tore up my rather large hermit crab and that was It I threw a
> >> fit and
> >> it was sold that day.
> >> Ya this was a long time ago but If I walk past a tank with one of those
> >> buggers in it I
> >> still cringe :)

[CapFusion]

You are lucky to have that LFS.

CapFusion,...


"Knowleman" > wrote in message
om...
> Thanks for the advice, but that vandal is outa here. The good thing
> about the LFS is that they allow you to return stock that doesn't work
> out. They have good quarantine facilities for this and will even take
> in sick fish and get them fixed up for you - kinda hospital service.
> Not all LFSs are uncaring, irresponsible, ill-informed, money grabbing
> crooks - just most of them :-)
>
>
> "CapFusion" > wrote in message
> >...
>> Do you have a sump with alot of algae? Put him in there to much on those
>> algae.
>>
>> CapFusion,...
>>
>>
>> "Knowleman" > wrote in message
>> om...
>> > Day 2: caught the little sod "digging" pieces out of our anemone with
>> > one of its legs then eating them. We couldn't believe it at first -
>> > kids tought it was cleaning the anenome - but no, 5 miniutes
>> > observation confirmed it was "snacking" by taking chunks out of it. He
>> > is now in the quarantine tank and will be going back to the LFS
>> > tomorrow :-(
>> >
>> >
>> > > wrote in message
>> > >...
>> >> My lad kept pestering me for the "cool" arrow headed crab he admired
>> >> whenever we visited the LFS. I eventually relented and ask the LFS
>> >> assistant if it was safe (she is normally pretty good with advice).
>> >> She said yes and assured me that it shouldn't bother fish, corals or
>> >> other inverts, being essentially a scavenger.
>> >>
>> >> Now that "Twigs" is in the tank, we have noticed that he waves his
>> >> legs at any passing fish and often brushes them. With the size he is
>> >> now, that is not an issue, but is this a sign of predatory behaviour
>> >> that could be a problem down the line? Couldn't find much of use on a
>> >> Google search.
>> >>
>> >> Other than that, he is a really interesting little guy to watch.
>> >>
>> >> Anyone got any thoughts or experience?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> **********End Of Post*************
>> >>
>> >> Were going back almost 30yrs here but my dad put one in his 55.
>> >> My room was in the basement next to the tanks and I did not sleep
>> >> nights
>> >> thinking that thing was going come out of the tank and get me :)
>> >> anyway it tore up my rather large hermit crab and that was It I threw
>> >> a
>> >> fit and
>> >> it was sold that day.
>> >> Ya this was a long time ago but If I walk past a tank with one of
>> >> those
>> >> buggers in it I
>> >> still cringe :)