gorilla crab?

dleko · 04/26/2004, 03:56 PM

Please help id this crab... we have 5 of them, and will be getting our 2nd shipment of rock this weekend. We would like to know of they are good or bad!

hdtran · 04/26/2004, 05:05 PM

It looks a little like the red variety of emerald crab.

Can you get a better macro shot?

The best way is to count legs. Porcelain crabs (good) have only 3 pairs behind the main claws; all others have 4 pairs behind the main claws.

jeffbrig · 04/26/2004, 09:54 PM

I think that's a good crab, possibly a porcelain. The gorilla crab pics I've seen have hairy-looking legs, probably where they get their name.

nuts590 · 04/26/2004, 11:28 PM

looks like a red mithrax crab... gorilla crabs will have very distinct black tips on their claws.
like this:
http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/ima...ycrab1_low.jpg

Bax · 04/27/2004, 02:26 PM

Yeah... I agree with red mithrax. I had three one the mantis got, one was mean and found that all drains lead to the ocean, and the other is tolerable even entertaining so he's still in the tank. Boy can they eat macro algea. Never a spec in the display thanks to him.
Porcalin crabs have the sweepers they use for filter feeding. they hid the longest before coming out, I have about 6 of those. Really cool to watch.
I aslo have about 25 tiny gorillias that will go as they get bigger and nasty.

goblinsharkman · 04/27/2004, 02:57 PM

The claw stucture is not of gorilla grabs, they hav big claws, that crabs claws are small lik an emerald crab, probably used for picking algae.

dleko · 04/27/2004, 03:08 PM

Thanks for all your help. We are getting better at identifying these little critters. We have found one gorilla crab.... now I know what they look like! We are finding a lot of life in our rock. Never thought I would be sitting in front of the tank with a flashlight!

04/26/2004, 03:56 PM	#1
dleko Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 60	gorilla crab? Please help id this crab... we have 5 of them, and will be getting our 2nd shipment of rock this weekend. We would like to know of they are good or bad!

04/26/2004, 05:05 PM	#2
hdtran Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 846	It looks a little like the red variety of emerald crab. Can you get a better macro shot? The best way is to count legs. Porcelain crabs (good) have only 3 pairs behind the main claws; all others have 4 pairs behind the main claws. __________________ Hy D. Tran Required reading: John Tullock's books; Bob Fenner's books. Current Tank Info: 120g with 145# TBS LR, 700W VHO lighting, 5g (24") hang-on Aquafuge, AquaC Remora Pro skimmer, all sumpless

04/26/2004, 09:54 PM	#3
jeffbrig Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 5,548	I think that's a good crab, possibly a porcelain. The gorilla crab pics I've seen have hairy-looking legs, probably where they get their name. __________________ Beware the power of stupid people in large groups..... Current Tank Info: formerly 250g room divider

04/27/2004, 02:26 PM	#5
Bax Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,619	Yeah... I agree with red mithrax. I had three one the mantis got, one was mean and found that all drains lead to the ocean, and the other is tolerable even entertaining so he's still in the tank. Boy can they eat macro algea. Never a spec in the display thanks to him. Porcalin crabs have the sweepers they use for filter feeding. they hid the longest before coming out, I have about 6 of those. Really cool to watch. I aslo have about 25 tiny gorillias that will go as they get bigger and nasty. __________________ 150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz

04/27/2004, 02:57 PM	#6
goblinsharkman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 271	The claw stucture is not of gorilla grabs, they hav big claws, that crabs claws are small lik an emerald crab, probably used for picking algae. __________________ Ben Frable Best fish in da sea W//-\\M//-\\S Current Tank Info: new tank: 3 ORA bangai Cardinals, 2 maxima clams and more acros than you can count. 46gallon: 2 ORA clowns,a harem of Flasher wrasse, and the coolest fish in the tank "Tony Montana" the bi-color blenny , shrimp goby and pistol

04/26/2004, 11:28 PM	#4
nuts590 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: West Busway Posts: 54	looks like a red mithrax crab... gorilla crabs will have very distinct black tips on their claws. like this: http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/ima...ycrab1_low.jpg

04/27/2004, 03:08 PM	#7
dleko Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 60	Thanks for all your help. We are getting better at identifying these little critters. We have found one gorilla crab.... now I know what they look like! We are finding a lot of life in our rock. Never thought I would be sitting in front of the tank with a flashlight!