Crab eating Star Fish

[Kunala6]

Hi Everyone,

I need help will my tank. I bought a Sand Shifting Star Fish couple days ago. Last night I saw a crab eating it. The starfish was healthy and doing fine so I don't believe it was sick.
Is this unusual? And how do I get these crabs out of my tank lol. I believe it to be a Hairy Gorilla Crab.

Thank you
Kunal

 

[Tikki]

Did the crab go into one of your rocks? Pull that rock out and set it on the counter and see if the crab will come out. You might be able to coax it out by moving to a bucket of water with a powerhead or even freshwater dipping the rock potentially. If you can catch it, you can move it to the sump or dispatch it.

 

[Tikki]

The starfish may heal up

 

[twentyleagues]

That depends. Tank doesnt look very old and sand sifting stars feed on basically biofilm and the small things that live in/on it. Most tanks can not support these long term.

 

[Kunala6]

Did the crab go into one of your rocks? Pull that rock out and set it on the counter and see if the crab will come out. You might be able to coax it out by moving to a bucket of water with a powerhead or even freshwater dipping the rock potentially. If you can catch it, you can move it to the sump or dispatch it.

Ya I saw it run out and grab the starfish and carry it back to its place, unfortunately the rock work is all glued together. I do have a fish trap I can try.

 

[Kunala6]

That depends. Tank doesnt look very old and sand sifting stars feed on basically biofilm and the small things that live in/on it. Most tanks can not support these long term.

The tank has been up for almost 11 month, I had a film of algae on the sand bed and detritus. It kind goes through phase over a couple of days sometimes the sand will be clean and the next day a layer of algae. I also have a diamond goby who most of the time does it job. Also do supplement food when I think they don't have much detritus. I will put shrimp, krill or pellets under the sand for them.

 

[exnisstech]

I would trying to get an ID in the crab if it's big and strong enough to drag a starfish around.

 

[twentyleagues]

The tank has been up for almost 11 month, I had a film of algae on the sand bed and detritus. It kind goes through phase over a couple of days sometimes the sand will be clean and the next day a layer of algae. I also have a diamond goby who most of the time does it job. Also do supplement food when I think they don't have much detritus. I will put shrimp, krill or pellets under the sand for them.

Thats good you are trying but they rarely eat anything but biofilms so they eventually die. Not always but usually. They are not detritivores or carnivores like serpent stars or others like the non-reef safe chocolate chips and those related.

 

[Tikki]

Did the crab go into one of your rocks? Pull that rock out and set it on the counter and see if the crab will come out. You might be able to coax it out by moving to a bucket of water with a powerhead or even freshwater dipping the rock potentially. If you can catch it, you can move it to the sump or dispatch it.

Ya I saw it run out and grab the starfish and carry it back to its place, unfortunately the rock work is all glued together. I do have a fish trap I can try.

Dang, I wouldn’t be able to sleep with that sucker wandering around my tank. Good luck catching it