Reef Discussion

[ifishnow]

Ok so most of the time you read and see people with the usual shrimp, stars etc but not many seem to have sexy shrimp, stars and stripes, collector urchins, decorator crabs etc...

I'm trying to add to my invert collection and need reviews on these and other inverts that aren't commonly kept.

 

[VaultBoy]

What about stomatopods? I have a mantis shrimp in my tank, on purpose!

 

[ifishnow]

I have thought if I ever get one as a hitchhiker I would put it in my sump, seeing that the sump is on display to but no way in my tank :eek

 

[VaultBoy]

He is the most interactive of all my aquatic pets, and the most fun to watch! When he gets a bit bigger I will be scared for the damsel that shares the tank!

 

[Josh M]

I have A sexy in my pico and will after this weekend have an emperor shrimp ;)

 

[NiCd]

Sexy shrimp used to be really common in the hobby, they were all basically collected by the one person near mortone bay. The goverment ended up buying the collectors licence back off him after imposing near impossible restrictions on him and sending him near bunkrupt. They are still very common in the wild and im told that divers will often encounter rocks covered with 1000's of them.

They require little to no specialised care and bread readily, I have been told their young are also the easiest out of all of the marine shrimp to raise with the larva taking BBS and having a short settling period.

I have kept about 20 in a 5 foot tank and at any given stage I would be able to see about 10-15 out on the rocks doing their little dance.

Collector urchins are great if you have a hair algea problem or similair but are generally a PITA as they will go through stages of collecting all of your frags and covering themselves in them then dropping them down the back of the tank, they are usually interesting to keep up until they are about 3cm big.

Decorator crabs Ive had a few as hitch hikers again seem more of a PITA than something overly interesting to keep.

If you have the money grab an emporer like josh or if your pockets are deeper and you have the time and effort a harliquin

 

[Axe S]

I have a collector urchin, Got it when it was about the size of a 5c piece. went into hiding as soon as i put it in the tank, till it came back out about 3 months ago about the size of a 20c piece..
now it is out all the time carrying little pieces of rubble around..

 

[MichelleShocked]

At the LFS today, I saw a pair of Flame Scallops:eek:eek *wantwantwant*
Never seen them here before. Asked LFS assistant where they came from. He insisted they're from "here". Then later admitted they're from the Gulf of Mexico. $30 each. Very cool!!

 

[Dr. Schell]

I have kept breeding colonies of sexy shrimp in the past. Yes they are very easy to breed, but like most marine shrimp, getting them through metamorphosis was near impossible. I only sucessfully raise 3 to adulthood after trying thousands.
They are by far the most interesting and entertaing shrimp I have kept although their generally small size means that they are best kept in a species tank. They are symbiotic with corals and anemones and their constant dancing is beautiful to watch. When the females are ready to release their eggs (usually about 20mins after lights out), they climb to the highest piece of coral and then do a back-flip (releasing their eggs/larvae at the same time). Their white spots glow under blue lights, truly a very beautiful creature.

 

[ifishnow]

With the sexy shimp do you think I would have trouble with my decorated goby..He doesn't bother the peppys but they would be a fair bit bigger. Also what sort of coral do they like to hang out in as an anemone isn't an option in a 3ft tank with power compacts. You can also get the glass type shrimp, which I wouldn't mind some of.

 

[Dr. Schell]

With the sexy shimp do you think I would have trouble with my decorated goby..He doesn't bother the peppys but they would be a fair bit bigger. Also what sort of coral do they like to hang out in as an anemone isn't an option in a 3ft tank with power compacts. You can also get the glass type shrimp, which I wouldn't mind some of.

you may have issues with the pepermint shrimp, they will be twice the size of the sexyshrimp.

 

[malau]

I have A sexy in my pico and will after this weekend have an emperor shrimp ;)

Good to hear she is doing well in your tank :)

 

[malau]

IME (when my sexies in the breeding tank) only few of them goes to the anemone the rest are either dancing on the sand or hide in the PVC pipe

 

[MagicJ]

I have A sexy in my pico and will after this weekend have an emperor shrimp ;)

Time for some pictures I think Josh.

 

[Josh M]

the emp is still a little hidey so ill try tonight.....

 

[MagicJ]

What about the sexy?

 

[Josh M]

Just re read this thread ..... anyone who wants pics check out my ibox TJ there's a few in there now :)