joeychitwood
01/07/2008, 03:49 PM
Yesterday, I looked in my tank and saw my Arrow Crab holding a struggling but mortally wounded Cleaner Shrimp in its single claw:
http://images.mdlindquist.com/shrimp%20vs%20crab%20001%20%28Large%29.jpg
After a few minutes, as the crab fought off fish interested in eating the shrimp flesh, I noticed my urchin rising from the live rock:
http://images.mdlindquist.com/shrimp%20vs%20crab%20011%20%28Large%29.jpg
Within minutes, the urchin had engulfed the shrimp and was pulling it down into the rock as the crab tugged mightily:
http://images.mdlindquist.com/shrimp%20vs%20crab%20018%20%28Large%29.jpg
The urchin won the tug of war, and within minutes, it had completely swarmed over the shrimp and devoured it, leaving the crab without its prey. Not long after this last photo, all evidence of the shrimp was gone.
http://images.mdlindquist.com/shrimp%20vs%20crab%20028%20%28Large%29.jpg
http://images.mdlindquist.com/shrimp%20vs%20crab%20001%20%28Large%29.jpg
After a few minutes, as the crab fought off fish interested in eating the shrimp flesh, I noticed my urchin rising from the live rock:
http://images.mdlindquist.com/shrimp%20vs%20crab%20011%20%28Large%29.jpg
Within minutes, the urchin had engulfed the shrimp and was pulling it down into the rock as the crab tugged mightily:
http://images.mdlindquist.com/shrimp%20vs%20crab%20018%20%28Large%29.jpg
The urchin won the tug of war, and within minutes, it had completely swarmed over the shrimp and devoured it, leaving the crab without its prey. Not long after this last photo, all evidence of the shrimp was gone.
http://images.mdlindquist.com/shrimp%20vs%20crab%20028%20%28Large%29.jpg