Crab Parasites and Leg Regeneration

Started by lazerbacon, April 01, 2013, 09:12:07 PM

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lazerbacon

Sup All,

I have gotten a few crabs that have small little worm type creatures attached to them.  Any idea what they are?  Also a cool look at the back leg that is growing.  Never seen a half grown leg,  either its there or its not when I catch them.


fishingtom


lazerbacon

Quote from: fishingtom on April 01, 2013, 09:14:36 PM
Looks exactly like a leach to me...

Hah,  good call Fishingtom.  Your are probably correct.

flounderpounder

" I CAN SKIN A BUCK, I CAN RUN A TROT LINE A PA BOY CAN SURVIVE" 


"YOU CAN LOVE ME OR HATE ME, BUT WHEN YOU HATE ME, YOU LOVE TO HATE ME ";)

Crab Shack

Quote from: fishingtom on April 01, 2013, 09:14:36 PM
Looks exactly like a leach to me...



Nah Tom, it looks nothing like my ex-brother-in-laws.   
NO CRABS WERE HARMED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS POST
WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE IS...FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID

A D V E R T I S E M E N T



gmubeach

I got several in LA That had smaller crustacean leaches. Was told by the locals to purge the crabs and salt bath them

Harford Crabber

Not sure if these are the same leeches but they look similar.  Here's a good article about them.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/disease/pdfs/crustaceandiseases/crab_leech.pdf
I love to fish, but I live to crab.

gmubeach

Thank god we don't have these in md va.  I was told to purge with iodized salt and tap water and cook imidetly

lazerbacon

1 out of every 5 crabs I catch has them.  None of them are adults yet or of legal size.  This is all crabs from the same creek as well. 

lazerbacon

Quote from: Harford Crabber on April 03, 2013, 07:15:26 PM
Not sure if these are the same leeches but they look similar.  Here's a good article about them.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/disease/pdfs/crustaceandiseases/crab_leech.pdf

Thanks for the info. That looks spot on.

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gmubeach

I dont know if they can survive in the cold or salt the crabs in la where on a freshwater lake. I've never seen them up here.

Crab Shack

#11
I went to Paris once, and saw all the "parasites".    ;D
NO CRABS WERE HARMED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS POST
WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE IS...FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID

Hawkeye

Old article - but conclusive evidence that leeches do utilize blue crabs as a spot to deposit eggs on.  these leeches attack fish - and use the blue crab shell as a surface to lay their eggs on.

http://www.biolbull.org/content/148/2/193.full.pdf

This is the scientific name for the leech: Myzobdella lugubris

Odd though that from your pic it looks like a worm attached to the abdomen/carapace.  The study just shows cocoons/eggs.  But I guess a worm being found on one makes sense too.


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