Help identifying alian in tank

[Tiny Tears]

Hi,

I came home the other night and went to feed my wet pets.

Something caught my eye. Nestling in the corner of a piece of rock, i saw something move.

I got a glass rod, and prodded it. It took off. It was IDENTICAL in colour to the live rock, and looked a bit like a spider.

It had THICK furry looking legs.

I prodded it again, and it took off fast. This time it seemed to unfurl, and HELL it moved fast. It moved so fast i could not see it so well. This time it looked longer than a spider, but dman, those legs were quite long, and quite hairy.

Anyone any idea what this coulds be? (AT, sorry to hear about the flatworms, and the tradegy that followed)

Any help appreciated.

[lightningstrike]

crabs?

[bum]

did it look like this?

[Tiny Tears]

Hi Bum,

thx for the pic.

Well, it was quite like that, BUT, it was the colour of live rock. Mottled, and very difficult to spot, except when it moved. . The legs were more soft and slimey. Like a worm.

I wish i could find it again.

How did you catch it ?

>barracuda. Maybe a crab. I am trying to search the net, but cannot find anything like it. Bum's picture is the closest.

[decentkid]

i also caught one from my tank but mine was red....

[bum]

my pics shows a hairy crab i caught,

soft legs?

could be a brittle star...

[Tiny Tears]

if i catch it, i'll post a pic.

any tips for catching it?

[bum]

not all unidentified creatures are bad,

brittle stars are good scavengers

does your alien look like this?

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

[Tiny Tears]

Thx bum, i think you id' the alien.

Safe enough to leave for now then!

Appreciate the help folks....

[]v[edia]

i dun think brittle star ba.. coz i have one brittle star.. it dun really move so fast in action..

[jesperlam]

Crab!!! hairy and moves fast. IMHO better get it out fast before theres casualties in your tank.

[Tiny Tears]

>jesperlam.

Yep, after sleeping easy thinking i had a cute brittle star, i found something different this morning.

While feeding, a small claw came out from a crack in the rock, and grabbed for a piece of brine.

SO...it is indeed a crab. I got a better look at it.

I cannot belive it has been there all this time, and i did not see it.

Catching him should be funny.

(i would now like to apologise for my abysmal typing last night. That is what happens after a jug of mhargarita at Cafe Iguana)

[jesperlam]

Use the essence bottle method to catch it...quite effective IMO. Then crush the crab and feed your fishes!

[Tiny Tears]

Essence bottle method?

[weishun]

Hmm could it be a spider crab? just making a wild guess.

[Tiny Tears]

Can anyone help me with Jesperlam's "essence bottle method"?

I have not heard of this.

What i imagine is ;

1. i stick some food in a bottle.

2. leave in the tank,

3. Lie in wait until the crab goes in?

That simple? It means staying up all night tho'....