WoodlandsTXReef
New member
Having previously had problems with mantis shrimp in another tank, I was more concerned about them than the “gorilla†crabs. So, I had a rubbermaid tub ready the day I brought home my new liverock (40 pounds) for cleaning, and hopefully, removing all the hitchhikers. I also brought in strong lighting in the form of a 200 watt floor lamp. I removed one rock at a time from the shipping box, and started squirting carbonated water in the holes. One of the first rocks was home to a lime green mantis, who quickly left his hole after getting a soda water shower. I only found one other mantis, which I probably would not have found if not for the extra lighting. This one refused to come out of his hole even though I squirted it with soda water maybe 10 times. I even tried soda water and a screw driver to irritate him out of the hole. In the end, since he absolutely would not leave, I speared him and was able to get a few pieces of him out. Since this rock does not have as many holes as most the other liverock I've seen, this was not a terribly time consuming process. Ultimately, I removed 2 mantis shrimp, and approximately 15 small crabs, none as large as a dime.
Regarding the gorilla crabs, I was not so concerned about them because I could find nothing in the forums convincing me they were all that bad. So, I didn't search too hard for them. If one came out of a hole after the soda water, fine. However, about a week ago after Googling several terms, I found another website with information suggesting that most crabs are not reef safe, as they will eat many of the small invertebrates on the rock. I don't know how true this is. Is this why they should be removed? Since reading that, I try to remove at least one crab a day and put him the fishbowl to feed the mantis. None have lasted more than 10 minutes with the mantis.
I am 90% sure that I removed all of the mantis shrimp. I do hear an occasional pop or clicking sound in the aquarium, but I know there is at least one, possibly two, pistol shrimp. There are numerous crabs still in the tank. I can only guess how many remain...maybe as few as 20, to as many as 50. Again, they are all quite small.
The information in this thread is my experience with regard only to the unwanted hitchhikers ...not to how much I like the rock (very much!), etc. Please read my other threads for my experience with TBS on those issues.
Regarding the gorilla crabs, I was not so concerned about them because I could find nothing in the forums convincing me they were all that bad. So, I didn't search too hard for them. If one came out of a hole after the soda water, fine. However, about a week ago after Googling several terms, I found another website with information suggesting that most crabs are not reef safe, as they will eat many of the small invertebrates on the rock. I don't know how true this is. Is this why they should be removed? Since reading that, I try to remove at least one crab a day and put him the fishbowl to feed the mantis. None have lasted more than 10 minutes with the mantis.
I am 90% sure that I removed all of the mantis shrimp. I do hear an occasional pop or clicking sound in the aquarium, but I know there is at least one, possibly two, pistol shrimp. There are numerous crabs still in the tank. I can only guess how many remain...maybe as few as 20, to as many as 50. Again, they are all quite small.
The information in this thread is my experience with regard only to the unwanted hitchhikers ...not to how much I like the rock (very much!), etc. Please read my other threads for my experience with TBS on those issues.
