Brackish Barnacle tank

[scythemantis]

I have a fondness for barnacles and can collect them from a brackish river within walking distance, so I wanted to set up a small tank just for a few clumps of them. I'm not sure if the same food sold for corals and other filter feeders will be good enough; has anyone ever had them survive for long in a reef tank? I imagine Brackish might be naturally hardier since it's an environment with less food than a coral reef. Maybe I should just keep collecting water from their habitat?

 

[Elysia]

The food that the barnacles eat would depend in part on what kind of barnacles you are collecting. Usually barnacles don't live very long in tanks, but I have a single very large (thumb size) one in one tank that came on a fist size scallop, both of which were acting as the substrate for a colony of mushrooms I purchased. All told, that barnacle has been in captivity for a year now, still alive and feeding. I was quite shocked one day when it swept in large meaty food like enriched brine and small mysis, and I never saw it release them. That isn't definative proof that the barnacle ate them, however.

 

[graveyardworm]

scythemantis,
[welcome]

The main challenge is going to be food, but with all the plankton type foods on the market these days you shouldnt have too much trouble in a dedicated tank keeping them. Keeping up on water changes will be necessary to maintain water quality.