Arrow crab

was told it'll eat my snails? First I'd heard of this. Also read some other posts...'spear' small fish??! I got him primarily to keep bristle worms in check and of course because they're freaky conversational piece.

 

They are cool, but I will never have one. I watched one kill a 2" hippo tang at a LFS once.

 

I had one for a bout a week. I saw him killing my hermits. Actually saw him pulling him out of the shell. Sold him to the store. Fun to watch but will kill a lot of stuff.

 

Wow crazy, I have heard about bristle worms but did not know they would kill so much.
Glad I didnt get one

 

how the heck could it catch let alone subdue a 2" fish or even a 1" fish with those tiny little claws? I'm perplexed. I can understand a coral banded as I've seen them in action and it's claws are bigger, but I'm still surprised an arrow crab can take a fish down unless it's already diseased/sick/dying. And hermits? I can't see how again w/those tiny claws it could pull a healthy hermit out... Snail?

 

The claws are tiny but they are almost purposly designed to reach in small places and pull out uncooperative food. Featherdusters, small hermits, bristleworms that are in tiny holes in the rocks are all lunch. Arrow crabs are much stronger than their skeletal frame would imply.

 

Most fish sleep in the rocks at night and they can get them while they're sleeping.
Check out his video :
YouTube - Arrow Crab Steals Fish Head