Barnacles

[Lmax8rn]

Does anyone know anything about barnacles? I think they are so cool! I want to get some, but I don't know how hard they are to keep, what temperature they like, and where to get them. Any advice?

 

[Betta132]

They filter-feed and don't usually survive in aquariums unless they're very tiny.

 

[Calappidae]

In the past I have mixed them up with Serpulidae worms (falsely IDing my own specimens as barnicles) but there are possible hitchhiking species that may occur though, distigushing them from Serpuldae and Tube worms is pretty difficult. However the ones you're probably thinking of are the large white barnacles you'd see on a whale or something, those pretty much never make it in an aquarium due to their fraility and how they anchor on unsuitably large rock in home aquariums.

 

[Betta132]

Goose barnacles show up on floating bits of debris sometimes, I suppose you could give those a try if you have a large tank and/or have cared for filter-feeders before.

 

[Adetia]

Tampa bay saltwater's live rocks have barnacles all over them if you want to try, but mine slowly died off over a few months.

 

[Betta132]

You could always just get some barnacle shells from somewhere and use those, they don't require any care. Gobies and blennies like them, too.

 

[Lmax8rn]

Thanks EV1, I think I will just watch them on TV, lol. I hate the idea of putting something in my tank only to watch it die.