Livestock questions

[Pea-brain]

Hello. I have a few questions about some of your inverts. I am just finishing stocking my ten gallon tank, which is connected to 2 other ten gallons, and I am looking for some fancy invertebrates to finish off my stocking. I've asked this question in 2 other forums on reefcentral and people either couldn't answer my questions or didn't want to. I have this list and I would like to know if these would do wel in my tank. My inhabitants are: 1 yellowheaded jawfish which will be coming tomorrow and 1 SW acclimated molly. green star polyps, and some palythoa.

Sexy shrimp: They seem really small. are they active in an aquarium?

Pom pom crabs: Do their anenomes need lots of light? Can they be agressive?

Decorator crab: Can it be agressive?

pistol/goby combo:Afraid that it might eat shrimp or bug the jawfish

harlequin shrimp: expensive to feed. I was considering getting 2-3 starfish and trading them out so one could regenerate an arm while another was getting eaten. Would that work?

Thank you

Dan

 

[Pea-brain]

Oh I almost forgot, good job on the ID for that G. chiragra in divers den.

Dan

 

[dfs/la2]

Pea-brain,

Thank you for your interesting questions on invertebrates.

In the aquarium, Sexy Anemone Shrimp are very active, and are able to grow up to 1-1/2” in size. Due to aggression around corals, we recommend using caution in housing Pom Pom or Decorator Crabs in a reef aquarium.

Gobies, Jawfish, and Pistol Shrimp are normally compatible with reef setups; however the Pistol Shrimp may eat other small invertebrates housed with it.

Starfish are often mortally wounded when a Harlequin Shrimp eats them, so regeneration is not normally possible in this situation.

Further information on species compatibility, diet, and behavior can be found throughout our website at http://www.liveaquaria.com.

Mike S.
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

 

[Pea-brain]

My understanding is the agression with corals with the 2 crabs is the decorator decorating with a coral and the pom pom either sweeping its anenome on the coral or using a coral in place of a dead anenome. Is that the problem? I am also quite interested in whether or not the anenome on the pom pom need light or not....Also I've read that they (harlequins) will eat asterina stars. I've recently noticed a few in my tank. I was wondering if they could be used to supplement the diet of the harlequin if cultured in my sump? And thank you for answering so fast. I honestly wasn't expecting an answer until tomorrow.

Dan

 

[dfs/la2]

Pea-Brain,

The anemones with the Pom Pom Crab will require sufficient lighting for survival. Most anemones need approximately five watts of lighting per gallon for a proper environment. The main reason why caution is recommended for keeping this crab in a reef tank is due to the possibility of the anemones stinging corals and sessile invertebrates.

When there is not enough food available, the Decorator Crab will pick at mushrooms and polyps in the aquarium, which is why caution should also be used with housing this specimen in a reef setup.

Harlequin Shrimp will eat most Starfish or Urchins they can get to. It is also possible to further supplement their diet with Asterina Stars.

Mike S.
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith