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Crab ID - Gorilla Crab?


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  1. #1
    thefishgirl - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
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    Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
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    1,281
    First Name
    Becky

    Default Crab ID - Gorilla Crab?

    I found this adorable little creature in my 300g today. I just want to give him a hug... (from a Mantis Shrimp, I think!).

    CrabFrontView Smilesforthecamera - Crab ID - Gorilla Crab?

    CrabTopView - Crab ID - Gorilla Crab?

    Please confirm ID.
    Thanks!

  2. #2
    MyNemesis - Reefkeeper
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    Sep 2009
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    Lansing, Michigan
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    First Name
    John
    Awards Fishbowl Drawing Winner - Fishbowl Drawing #3 MCES 2012 ($25 Reef Paradise Gift Certificate)

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    You want to keep a lookout for Gorilla Crabs (xanthid species) and Stone Crabs. These pesky buggers are predators that can cause damage to your reef, eating anemones, clams, and anything else they can get their claws around. They might look cute when they're small, but it's just not worth putting them into the tank. If you really want to keep them, you could put them into your sump/fuge (if you have one).

    The sure-fire way to spot one of these is to look for the black tips on their claws. As Gorilla crabs get larger, they become quite "hairy" all over. You can smash these guys pretty easily using a chopstick. Take a look at the catalog of organisms for pictures of other "good crabs" that may hitchhike on your rock. (From Tampa Bay Saltwater - sells rock)
    http://tbsaltwater.com/thepackage/im...orillacrab.jpg

  3. #3
    MizTanks - Reefkeeper
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    Oct 2009
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    U.P. of Michigan.
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    Jamie
    Awards Photo of the Month - October 2012 Photo of the Month Post and Reply Award - Winner of the first PAR Contest. Monthly Giveaway Winner

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    Looks like it to me TFG! Big bugger too! Unless its just the pic?? What do your corals look like? Notice any damage?
    There's nothing like being a Reefer! www.upmmas.com

  4. #4
    thefishgirl - Reefkeeper CR Member
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    Default

    Thanks for confirming for me guys!!!

    He is BIG! He's probably about 3.5 inches wide. He's been skulking around my 300g for quite a while. I saw him one day about 3 weeks ago.. and then couldn't find him. I thought maybe I had imagined seeing a hairy black claw...until today. I nabbed him with my steel tweezers during feeding time.

    I've lost so many various corals, but with all the travel, it was hard to tell if it was tank params or something munching on the corals. I'm working on setting up my 75g display right now, and working on the 300g params with water changes, general cleaning and maintenance. The 300g is going to be unloaded and all rock dipped, and anything that doesn't resemble a fish, a snail or hermit crab is going to find a new home...or grave.

  5. #5
    MizTanks - Reefkeeper
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
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    Jamie
    Awards Photo of the Month - October 2012 Photo of the Month Post and Reply Award - Winner of the first PAR Contest. Monthly Giveaway Winner

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    I'm glad you got him! I had one come in on a frag of zoo's once. Being a newb at the time I thought I scored!! LOL NOT!! Caught him a week later. No where near as big as yours.
    There's nothing like being a Reefer! www.upmmas.com

  6. #6
    thefishgirl - Reefkeeper CR Member
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MizTanks View Post
    I'm glad you got him! I had one come in on a frag of zoo's once. Being a newb at the time I thought I scored!! LOL NOT!! Caught him a week later. No where near as big as yours.
    I'm sure this came in one of my zoa colonies that I used to have. Even though I dipped all the corals... I think if they are buried deep enough, they manage to survive.

    Ohh..and my b/f wants to keep him and not feed him to a Mantis Shrimp. So.... I am putting together a little 5g nano so he can cart him home. He's currently in a really tall flower vase in my tank.

  7. #7
    carlitofish - Reefkeeper CR Sponsor
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    Dec 2011
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    Birmingham
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    carl

    Default

    that is not a gorilla crab, its a king kong crab, fyi.

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