Gonodactylus
Premium Member
Last week I collected a couple of Gonodactyllaceus graphurus, an 8 cm gonodactylid that is common in coastal waters in Queensland. I had rarely kept this species, but after having them in the lab, I'm impressed by their strength and nasty temper. They have taken out three plastic holding containers by spearing them and this morning the larger female smashed through the bottom of her aquarium, presumably trying to dig into the substrate. Admittedly, it was a thin standard 10 gal, but it still must have taken a series of strong blows to knock an inch hole in the bottom. I also watched on literally chip a Haptosquilla glyptocercus out of its cavity in a piece of live rock, quickly run it down, dispatch it with a single blow, and eat it.
This is a tough, attractive species with a deep orange meral spot. From this experience, I would stay it rivals G. chiragra as a gonodactylid to keep.
Roy
This is a tough, attractive species with a deep orange meral spot. From this experience, I would stay it rivals G. chiragra as a gonodactylid to keep.
Roy
