gum drop coral croucher

[Myles]

Has anyone ever kept one of the gum drop coral crouchers that divers den gets from time to time?
My main questions are how secretive are they? Are they just a little shy like pink streaked or possum wrasses or do they hide all the time.
My other question is how venomous? Are they easy to handle if your careful or do you really need to keep away?
Myles

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

I've kept them and although I can't say I've personally been stung, I have heard it is like a bee sting. Remember though, if you're allergic it would be a lot worse. In terms of them being secretive, they are some of the most secretive and cryptic fish you could put in an aquarium. They only hide. They will never come out and about and swim around or even sit on the sand. They find a small crevice and stay there or have a few different ones that they move to from time to time. To feed them you really need to spot feed because they don't come out for food. They make amazing displays in a nano tank dedicated for them though and I certainly loved having them. In terms of handling them, just don't use your hands as a net will do.

 

[Moort82]

As above, kept them only in a shop situation with fairly bare tanks but they find a spot in the rock or coral head and stay there. When it comes to feeding they are lightning fast, darting out for the food and back again without you really noticing. You get a blur of where they went.

 

[teemee]

I've kept them.
How little or much you see them also depends on what size tank they're in... if they're in a smaller nano, you're likely to see them more often which makes it easier to feed them!
+1 for spot feeding.
I've handled mine a few times and never been stung.

 

[Myles]

Are they long lived?
I'm asking because it sounds like the best thing to do would be to set up a small tank for them. I have an extremely peaceful 180g that I was hoping they would display ok in.
Myles

 

[Bret61081]

Are they long lived?
I'm asking because it sounds like the best thing to do would be to set up a small tank for them. I have an extremely peaceful 180g that I was hoping they would display ok in.
Myles

You would never see it! I had one in my 95g I never saw till I took it down and found it alive still in a rock!

 

[Cliving1]

Probably have a personality similar to that of scorpion. Below is the thread where I got some good info.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2552610

 

[Myles]

From the videos it looks like my 180 would definitely not work and that they need a nano of their own.
How long were you guys able to keep them-I'm trying to figure out whether setting up a small tank for them is worth it.