Best way to catch a Gorilla

[kdc]

I have what we believe to be a gorilla crab and I want him out. I tried a bottle trap and all I caught were my blue legged hermits. Anyone have any suggestions? He’s burrowed up in under my bottom rocks, and when I move the rocks, of course, he’s always gone.

 

[WannaBSpaghetti]

Try a banana.

Jk. The bottle trap should work but it will likely take a bunch of tries - or you'll get lucky and it'll be chilling in there tomorrow morning.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

I had no luck with the trap. I was able to just check my tank when the lights are out and see it roaming around and grab it.

 

[Greybeard]

Try a banana.

I was thinking something similar...

Bottle traps do work, though patience is a necessary component that most of the 'how to' documents neglect to mention.

 

[Midrats]

Spear it when the lights are out and the room is dark.

 

[joseserrano]

you can use interceptor to kill it.

 

[kdc]

you can use interceptor to kill it.

Won’t that kill the crabs I want to keep too?

Spear it when the lights are out and the room is dark.

What would you suggest I use as a spear?

I was thinking something similar...

Bottle traps do work, though patience is a necessary component that most of the 'how to' documents neglect to mention.

Unfortunately, that is also something I’m lacking in this case. I want to add a shrimp/goby pair and don’t want to chance them with the gorilla crab.

I had no luck with the trap. I was able to just check my tank when the lights are out and see it roaming around and grab it.

He’s never far from his burrow and always dashes I’m at the slightest movement.

Try a banana.

Jk. The bottle trap should work but it will likely take a bunch of tries - or you'll get lucky and it'll be chilling in there tomorrow morning.

Maybe the banana will work better than the frozen mixed food I’ve been using, seeing as it hasn’t worked so far.

 

[ThunderGoose]

I caught my mitrax crabs by target feeding them. I used a bamboo skewer, put some crab on it and fed them for several days. Once they're used to coming out for food it's just a matter of (for me) positioning an aquarium net carefully (don't want to spook them) and then *swoop.* You gotta be fast, though. They're scurry out if they can.

One of mine "rode" the bamboo skewer and I was able to move her into a better catching position.

It takes just as much patience as a bottle trap but it's a different method.

then - Queen of the Sump!

 

[kashman100]

I did same thing with long tweezers and a piece of shrimp. When they come out far enough grab them with smaller tweezers

 

[Vincent100]

Lean a glass up against the rock with some shrimp in it , still might catch hermits but it does work on some crabs
The feeding than grabbing with tweezers or a net works well ...as mentioned above

 

[Midrats]

ThunderGoose is spot on. They can be trained to take food pretty quickly. I've had luck luring them out in the dark and then spear them with the end of a plastic rod, well more like crush. Everything else in the tank gets to dine on fresh crab.

 

[Dancingmad]

I spear fish in my tank with bamboo skewers (like for kebabs). Sharp though - don't accidentally kebab yourself!

Edit: Also great for a general poking stick. Everyone needs a poker.

 

[Katrina71]

I caught mine by hand. It was a frustrating process. By the time I got him, he had a name. ( I can't say it on here)

 

[kdc]

I caught mine by hand. It was a frustrating process. By the time I got him, he had a name. ( I can't say it on here)

I can just imagine! Mine has a name too that can’t be used in front of the kids.

I spear fish in my tank with bamboo skewers (like for kebabs). Sharp though - don't accidentally kebab yourself!

Edit: Also great for a general poking stick. Everyone needs a poker.

I’m getting some skewers today, they seem to have lots of uses and maybe with luck they’ll help me catch a PIA crab.

I caught my mitrax crabs by target feeding them. I used a bamboo skewer, put some crab on it and fed them for several days. Once they're used to coming out for food it's just a matter of (for me) positioning an aquarium net carefully (don't want to spook them) and then *swoop.* You gotta be fast, though. They're scurry out if they can.

One of mine "rode" the bamboo skewer and I was able to move her into a better catching position.

It takes just as much patience as a bottle trap but it's a different method.

then - Queen of the Sump!

What do you use to target feed? Just thawed shrimp? Unfortunately I don’t have a sump so unless one of my local stores wants him..

I did same thing with long tweezers and a piece of shrimp. When they come out far enough grab them with smaller tweezers

You actually managed to catch one with tweezers!?

 

[Adele]

Everyone needs a poker.

Agreed. Off topic but I just glued a spoon on the end of my Poker so now I guess it’s more of a multi-function Spooker.

 

[erky]

bananas work at most zoos rofl

 

[OneReef]

My best luck was with a drinking glass leaned up against the rocks and putting pellet food in it.

 

[kirstyflash]

All I catch in the bottle are all 8 of my nassarius so we it them in a breeder box. Then tried the bottle with fresh tiger shrimp And got nothing! Going to try the skewer approach with some of the leftover shrimp

 

[Super Fly]

I used a skewer (made from a long smores stick) and a small piece of shrimp on another stick to lure him out. Have to be very patient for this bc when they r in the rock, crab locks it's hind legs onto the rock so that if it gets startled it can quickly pull itself back into the rock. U want to patiently lure the crab away from the rock so it releases its hind legs from the rock and comes out then its skewer time. Sometimes if u r lucky, they r away from rock and u can use a cooking tong as I did once.

 

[kdc]

bananas work at most zoos rofl

My kids found your reply hilarious.