Theres a Strange crab in my live rock?

[Chasman]

blennydude: Nice link. I learned a few things from that one.

Thought I'd throw something positive into the mix here.

Chas.

[Seige]

If you research then why do you put incompatible subjects together,knowing full well what's going to happen.Gee what happened to Mr.Lightfoot.For your information the term "Reef Safe" means the subject will not harm corals or sessile inverts,that leaves a lot of animals on the dinner menu.Do you really believe that the new Mr.Lightfoot won't ambush your fish at night when he gets big enough.And on top of that you must have put your rocks directly on the sand with no foundation for them to shift and fall.Yes you are right about ONE THING I would find a cheap source of Sallys to feed your lobster too.I think by now you understand I know a lot more about crabs and lobsters than you think.I like to find out what works and doesn't work myself too.I was wondering if a person falls over 300ft.onto cement would they have more than scratches,would you be my test subject.

I know what reef safe means. Lose your know it all attitude dude.

Sure the lightfoot will eventually get large enough to be a problem. Until then I knowingly decided I'd enjoy the added diversity. When the time comes it'll get moved. Shocking isn't it. I knew that without your omniscient guidance.

I intentionally decided not to place the rock and corals on platforms and placed them deep in the sand bed instead. Platforms won't stop the goby from burying corals or physically moving them and burying them on occasion. No I don't glue my corals to the reef either. I prefer the option of easily changing the environment. If the goby decides to move and bury one once every 3 or 4 months I don't really care.

We all make informed choices about our tanks and "your way" isn't the only way.

As far as you knowing a lot more about crabs and lobsters, I don't believe you know crap all. You believe your all knowing but you just come off as an ass.

Now, Stevey, be a good lil boy and go play in your sandbox.

[rluix]

rluix, is your crab on this site? www.xtalreef.com You will see the phrase "oportunistic feeders" about some crabs, I would bet yours is ok for now. I have a hitchhiker crab about the size of yours that didn't cause any problems, and he sure is a stealthy s.o.b. Just don't let him get really hungry that he has to go looking for some oportunity. ha, ha

he doesn't seem to apear in that list, but he does have some tiny hairs, i think its bad then , i enjoyed watch him take off pieces of clams and take them to hes little cave being him, my first ever living creature in my tank, untill i get my first fish tomorrow, a yellow tail damsel, because i heard they were great beginner fish and very hardy.

[Seige]

Xtalreef

Thanks Blenny. Nice link. Easy mistake on the url since the site name doesn't match the url.

[Steve McKay]

Seige,I never said anywhere that I know it all,never said anything about my way is the only way either.But I don't put animals together that will kill each other.Maybe you learned something viewing my build thread yesterday but I doubt it.Your immature attitude is showing.

[Parrothead]

he doesn't seem to apear in that list, but he does have some tiny hairs, i think its bad then , i enjoyed watch him take off pieces of clams and take them to hes little cave being him, my first ever living creature in my tank, untill i get my first fish tomorrow, a yellow tail damsel, because i heard they were great beginner fish and very hardy.

If he's hairy, gorilla crab, bad, I had an infestation of them in my 55 when it was full of gulf rock, lost several fish to them, try to get him out, size doesn't matter with these guys, I would avoid damsels, except clowns(damsel family)99.9% of damsels have a piss poor attitude and will bully fish way bigger than themselves, I wouldn't,,,,, pick another starter fish if your tank is ready.

[Seige]

he doesn't seem to apear in that list, but he does have some tiny hairs, i think its bad then , i enjoyed watch him take off pieces of clams and take them to hes little cave being him, my first ever living creature in my tank, untill i get my first fish tomorrow, a yellow tail damsel, because i heard they were great beginner fish and very hardy.

Damsels are sometimes used to start a tank because they are cheap and hardy but they can be very territorial towards later additions to the tank. They'll be especially territorial at feeding time.

You can reduce that aggresiveness by redistributing the reef rock when you add the new fish so it simulates a new territory, or adding multiple fish so the damsel isn't as likely to focus on one target, or adding equally hardy fish. Each time you add fish they'll get aggresive towards each other until they determine the pecking order.

I recommend you decide which fish you want that are compatible and figure out an order to add them so the most aggresive fish is added last. You'll find you adjust things based on what's available but research and planing it out does save you from some mistakes.

I started with a pair of Clownfish and worked up to a Flame Angel. Last addition was a Mandarin which the other fish totally ignored since it uses a different food supply.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

[Parrothead]

"Damsels are sometimes used to start a tank because they are cheap and hardy"

I still don't believe lfs and people actually use the term damsel and cycle in the same sentence, it stresses the fish out, and really provides no noticable differnence in cycling time vs. Live Rock and Live Sand, Sorry I don't feel any creature should be subjected to the toxic water conditions of cycling,

before anybody jumps me, go read what Ninong and leebca discuss about cycling a tank with live fish

[Seige]

Seige,I never said anywhere that I know it all,never said anything about my way is the only way either.But I don't put animals together that will kill each other.Maybe you learned something viewing my build thread yesterday but I doubt it.Your immature attitude is showing.

Your the one who suggested that I didn't do research or know what I was doing. As I said multiple times, including prior to your rants, I chose to do what I did for my own reasons. I don't tell you what you're doing differently because their are many ways to run a tank and you have your own reasons to do what you do.

No I didn't learn anything from your thread. Your right about that. I didn't read much though since your tank was so basic. Maybe your thread gets more informative later. I hope so or you shouldn't be giving any advice to anyone.

Take a chance dude, go buy a crab. Enjoy it.

[Seige]

"Damsels are sometimes used to start a tank because they are cheap and hardy"

I still don't believe lfs and people actually use the term damsel and cycle in the same sentence, it stresses the fish out, and really provides no noticable differnence in cycling time vs. Live Rock and Live Sand, Sorry I don't feel any creature should be subjected to the toxic water conditions of cycling,

before anybody jumps me, go read what Ninong and leebca discuss about cycling a tank with live fish

LOL Parrothead you've always had good advice.

I totally agree, if your tank hasn't completed cycling then do NOT add any fish. Cycling takes about 6 weeks. First addition should be snails and other detritivores after cyclings complete.

[rluix]

LOL Parrothead you've always had good advice.

I totally agree, if your tank hasn't completed cycling then do NOT add any fish. Cycling takes about 6 weeks. First addition should be snails and other detritivores after cyclings complete.

What? my tank its cylcled, it has been running for almost 2 months, with ammonia, nitrate 0 , ph of 8.4/8.5 and salinity of 1.024

[Parrothead]

What? my tank its cylcled, it has been running for almost 2 months, with ammonia, nitrate 0 , ph of 8.4/8.5 and salinity of 1.024

No one said your tank wasn't cycled, but if you are ready to start adding live forms you should start with your clean up crew that seige mentioned, this is the normal progression of things, Ideally you need to start doing some research of the corals and fish you want to keep, make a list of each, make sure they are compatialbe with each other and proceed slowly, start with the clean up crew.

Just because you have finished the intial cycle does not mean your tank is ready to start dumping a bunch of life into, the cycle is just the start, it needs time to mature and the biological life in your rock and sand needs to grow as you add things. Just go slow and easy

[rluix]

No one said your tank wasn't cycled, but if you are ready to start adding live forms you should start with your clean up crew that seige mentioned, this is the normal progression of things, Ideally you need to start doing some research of the corals and fish you want to keep, make a list of each, make sure they are compatialbe with each other and proceed slowly, start with the clean up crew.

Just because you have finished the intial cycle does not mean your tank is ready to start dumping a bunch of life into, the cycle is just the start, it needs time to mature and the biological life in your rock and sand needs to grow as you add things. Just go slow and easy

Thats alright with me, i was thinking of a cleaner shrimp. i love shrimps.

[Parrothead]

By clean up crew I mean snails, sand sifters that kind of thing

check and call these guys, They have taken excellent care of many memebers here.

Reef aquarium invertebrates and reef safe fish

Just tell them a quick history of your tank and they will take good care of you

[Chameleon Bob]

rluix if you ask me that looks like a pom pom crab. And it sounds like it's full grown by your description. Some on here say all crabs are bad and some say there's no problem if you know what the crab does. I have a decorator crab and haven't had a problem yet with him but I bought him knowing it would pick certain corals up and move them around the tank. the pom pom would most likely find a small aiptasia to put on it's claw and maybe pick on small hermits/snails. it's to small to grab fishes unless the fish is an idiot and sits in the same spot while the crab pinches it.

[Parrothead]

Here a pic of a pompom crab

http://www.getahugetank.com/images/pompom.jpg

[Chameleon Bob]

So your saying no way on the pom pom then? Looks like it to me

[Parrothead]

Bob,

I didn't say it wasn't a pom pom, the pic that started this thread is a bit to blurry to make a postive ID, rluix is the only one of us that has seen it up close and personal, my op is if it cannot postively be identified, get rid of it, it isn't worth the chance JMHO

[Chameleon Bob]

RLUIX,

We need a better picture, also where did the one go? I thought it was on post 19 but can't find it any more.

[rluix]

RLUIX,

We need a better picture, also where did the one go? I thought it was on post 19 but can't find it any more.

Sorry, im trying my best, but i simply can't lure him out anymore =|, heres the pic: