Arrowhead Crabs and Seahorse's?

[connorsbala]

Hi
Ive got quiet a few Bristleworms in my tank and i know Arrow Crabs eat them....anyone had any success with housing them both together?

Cheers

 

[650-IS350]

I personally don't trust crabs, there too oportunistic in feeding. Either be dietrus/extrafood or your fish or corals

 

[HappySkittles]

same boat
i dont really trust crabs

 

[pledosophy]

I kept an arrow crab with a pair of reidi for a few months and did not have a problem myself. The arrow crab also did not kill any of the bristleworms, but did like eating the seahorse food.

Others keeping arrow crabs with seahorses have reported problems and the larger the crab gets the more problamatic things become. I think I got away with it because my arrow crab was rather small.

Bristleworms are not as bad as most believe, they are actually quite good as a clean up crew. If you use a feeding dish and limit the amount of food they have access to, then you will be able to control there population better then by biological methods IME.

I did have a fireworm in my system once and removed my rock and did a hypersaline dip for 10 mintutes with water measuring 1.040. This caused the bristleworms to flee the rock, by the hundreds and I removed the 4 foot fireworm. I did have hair algae problems that followed. The hyper dip will not damage the bacteria on the rock.

HTH

 

[JennyL]

I am another that doesn't think it's a good idea to keep crabs with seahorses.

I have always had a rule for myself and that is, if there is any risk to my seahorses then it doesn't go in their tank.

I agree that bristle worms are good at clean up but I think people need to know there is some risk keeping them in a seahorse tank.

There have been a number of incidents of seahorses accidently snicking up a bristle worm when both are going after the same piece of food. I have helped a number of people that have had this happen to one of their horses.
If the bristle worm gets lodged in the snout and the horse is unable to spit it out the result is a painful death.

I think people need to be aware of the risk of keeping them in a seahorse tank and if you are going to keep them, they should be thinned out often. They multiply like mad. Also, it's a good idea to have a feeding station set higher than the bottom of the tank so the horses are not sharing the food with the worms at the same time.

HTH

 

[Snail-po]

i have a pretty good sized arrow crab and he is really nice. i have never put him in with sea horses but he does fine with a slow moving cardinal. i think , overall it depends more on the size and personality of the crab.

 

[amast13]

My experience with arrowheads is they grow fast, eat lots of snails and go after fish. So I would guess with a SH you are asking for trouble!

 

[nanafish]

Depending on the amount of rock in the tank and how much is affected by the worm, wouldn't be more prudent to just change the rock, vacuum the upper layer of sand , perhaps a water change---Then add some new rock in the tank gradually?? I have a Sally lightfoot in my tank with the ponies and the ponies are not the least bit bothered. I also have a decorator crab in there as well. I'm hoping that I just have an exceptional social group in there.

 

[natan]

For brisleworm control you can use a conus snail wich only eats them. The only problem is what to feed it once the worms are gone, which is going to be within a short time.

 

[nycustomsumps]

will coral banded shrimp eat bristleworms ?

 

[roxxielb76p]

Hi
Ive got quiet a few Bristleworms in my tank and i know Arrow Crabs eat them....anyone had any success with housing them both together?

Cheers

I hate arrowheads I had a pair of pipe fish and I belive it eat one as one went missing n the weeks after the crab purchase and now my other pipefish is misrable and just sits on the bottom of sand doing nothing! Soooo sad loved my blue stripe dwarf pipefish

 

[ReeferYork]

will coral banded shrimp eat bristleworms ?

Some will, some won't. IMO the risk vs. reward of a CBS it very much worth the risk, but then again my CBS is pretty much the sole resident of my 20g coral tank besides some snails and my two Emerald Crabs.

While I would put her in my DT, others will tell you not to bother as they are hit or miss with aggression.

 

[pledosophy]

Although I did see CBS and Seahorses together at Aquarium of the Pacific (along with CBB might I add) it is not something I would do.

Old thread.