gorillas r us

[steve9k]

Ok, I had a suspicion I had a gorilla crab, and a few days ago I finally spotted him.

Then I spotted another.

And another.

And....


...it looks like I'm completely overrun -- I've counted at least 7 so far, and I'm sure there are more hiding.

Like a fool I tried to nab a few with some forceps, but of course they're too fast. What to do????

 

[patsan]

Richard says to grab them with your hands. ...they don't hurt.

 

[steve9k]

Ok, but they're freakin' fast!

 

[patsan]

Scary to me! I'm afraid to even touch baby ones.
If you have the claw, you can try and get them out that way too. I've gotten quite a few out that way, but I still have tons in the tank that the claw just can't get to.

 

[mikehulen]

THe ones in my tank are too smart to go into the traps I have set, so I just use my hands. Catch them at night under a moonlight (if you have one).

I have captured 3 so far and they are now denizens of my refugium.

Now if I could only catch a glimpse of the Pistols or Mantises that are clicking in my tank.

 

[Fountainhead]

Steve: I'm a Gorilla Crab expert, and I'm here to help. I must have removed twenty of the things from my TBS rock over the first 6 months.

Forget the traps...a waste of time. The only sure fire way to get them is to watch the tank frequently and when you see one on an upper rock, pull the rock out and capture the beast. (The great thing about gorilla crabs is if you start moving the rock they're on, they don't have the good sense to jump off...they grab on tighter. Idiots.) You may have to squirt carbonated water in his hole to get him to come out. Also, try your best to catch them when they're little. Once they get big (and they get BIG) they're far less likey to venture onto the upper rocks. And they get a lot smarter, too. Way smarter than you or me, that's for certain.

Here's a portrait of "Misty". He was my most cherished opponent, though they were all special in their own way. Misty was the largest and craftiest and after I got him (a project that extended several weeks) we spent a few moments reminiscing about our standoff. Then I squashed him and fed him to my serpent stars. He was special, that one.

 

[steve9k]

I guess if they weren't a potential threat I'd just leave them alone. I have a little red one that stands up on its hind legs every so often and spreads it's "arms" out like in a King Kong pose -- it's quite comical!

I'll try doing some gorilla hunting under the moonlights...thx.

 

[Fountainhead]

I have a little red one that stands up on its hind legs every so often and spreads it's "arms" out like in a King Kong pose -- it's quite comical!

Are you sure the "red" one is a gorilla? Might be a Mithrix crab, which have hairly legs, but smooth bodies. My mithrix used to do what you describe...stretch out for food when I fed the fish. Sadly, he disappeared one day, and I never saw him again.

Here's a pic of my mithrix. Does this look like your red crab?

 

[docklink]

Nice shot of the mithrix!! I rather liked mine till I caught it chewing on some ricordea (not just cleaning around it). Out it went.

 

[reefr_madniss]

Nice pics fountainhead, and helpful advice for getting the gorillas -- thanks!

 

[steve9k]

He has black pincers -- isn't that the tipoff?

 

[Fountainhead]

Yeah, gorilla's have black tips. I've just never seen a red one before. Mine were all just brown. Is it hairy all over...body as well as the legs?

 

[steve9k]

yes, quite the hairy beast.

 

[tygger]

fountain, nice pics! What camera are you using? Any special lens?

 

[Fountainhead]

Thanks Tygger. Those were taken with a Nikon D70 and the Tamron 90mm f2.8 1:1 Macro lens.

 

[Nirol]

What is this guy? No black claws, but hairy.

 

[tonyh67]

Looks like a gorilla to me.

Fountainhead's method of catching is about the best way. You may snag one now and again, but it is easiest to just pull the rock.

 

[steve9k]

Of course, mine like to hang out at the gravel level so they can scoot under a rock as soon as the sense trouble...

 

[steve9k]

So far I've had the best luck nabbing them with tweezers. Score is me 2, gorillas 0.

As the days pass I'm finding more & more cute little crabs that I've not noticed before. Found one yesterday, very tiny, blood-red in color. Also noticed what looked like a blob of gravel trolling the bottom, 'til I saw tiny claws poking out from under -- I'm guessing this is a decorator crab?

 

[docklink]

... Also noticed what looked like a blob of gravel trolling the bottom, 'til I saw tiny claws poking out from under -- I'm guessing this is a decorator crab?

Right. They are facinating to watch but have been known to pester corals (and other critters). I had one that loved to decorate with a clump of algae. Funniest looking thing, having this bushy little glob of green hiking all over the tank. I reluctantly evicted it after watching it tearing some cup corals.