Ordered The Package

[divemonster]

Someone on the boards suggested that the mantis will probably get the bad crabs eventually. That statement got me thinking about the mantis shrimp's role in the food chain.

The gorilla crab/stone crab population in my tank has been diminishing. There are several decorator (at least 5!) and porcelain crabs (i've counted 3) still present in my TBS reef. Perhaps giving your mantis a chance to hunt will help with the crab population especially since you seem inclined to trap them all. I lost a peppermint shrimp, but I do not believe the mantis was at all responsible. Just my 2 cents worth

 

[redwarrior77]

I found that 99% of my crabs are the "good crabs" that just sit around picking at the rock cleaning. I think the fact that these crabs were more interested in what was on the rock than the shrimp is a good sign that they might be good guys.

 

[divemonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13054319#post13054319 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redwarrior77
I found that 99% of my crabs are the "good crabs" that just sit around picking at the rock cleaning. I think the fact that these crabs were more interested in what was on the rock than the shrimp is a good sign that they might be good guys.

Well said! By the way, sorry to hear about the demise of your cuke. :sad2: It makes me glad that i'm not trying the challenge of a very small reef system on this reefkeeping learning curve (more like 45 degree angle). You work so hard and still risk losing critters. The mistakes you may make are compounded by the size (or lack thereof!) of the ecosystem.

Hang in there Red, we are all rooting for your Nanocube ecosystem!

 

[Acrophet]

Look who I caught a couple days ago.

 

[divemonster]

Whoa!

Whoa!

That is a sizeable Mantis! Very pretty, too. How did you catch it?

 

[Acrophet]

I tried everything from trying to bait him out with shrimp to poking him with a stick... nothing worked.

Once I saw him go in a rock, I took the rock out and set it on the floor. He jumped out in a matter of seconds.

 

[Acrophet]

Updated pictures!

My large crab... Anyone know what he is?

Anyone know what kind of snail that is in the back?

 

[divemonster]

WOW!

WOW!

Nice pictures of your tank and aquascaping. I've looked all over for a name on the crab. All I can find is "decorator" crab. I have 2 of them, one the size of yours and one is a baby about the size of a dime. it has grown and now has a tunicate colony it carries around.

As for the snail...DANG that is HUGE! That's about all I can say about it since I have no idea on ID.

 

[figuerres]

Re: WOW!

Re: WOW!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13253114#post13253114 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by divemonster
Nice pictures of your tank and aquascaping. I've looked all over for a name on the crab. All I can find is "decorator" crab. I have 2 of them, one the size of yours and one is a baby about the size of a dime. it has grown and now has a tunicate colony it carries around.

As for the snail...DANG that is HUGE! That's about all I can say about it since I have no idea on ID.

I think there are a bunch of small crabs that all do the "deco" thing and have not been fully id'd ...
the cirtter book I have says this in fact.
also I think Dr. Ron one time said the shape of the crab shell is almost no use as they can vary but still be the same crab.

I will look at the book tonight and see if I can find this one.

 

[DeeSeven]

I dont know what you did with your mantis shrimp but he looks to be a Neogonodactylus wennerae

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...costraca/royslist/species.php?name=n_wennerae

as for the others I have no clue

 

[figuerres]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13253007#post13253007 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Acrophet
Updated pictures!

My large crab... Anyone know what he is?

try and get some photos of the back, the side and the underside.

it kind of looks like a "squat lobster" but to big.

the deco crabs I see photos of have longer legs.

more angles will help figure this guy out.

also we may need to ask around... Dr. Ron or others.

 

[figuerres]

canidates:
http://www.gsmfc.org/seamap/picture_guide/Lobsters/munidopsis robusta.pdf
http://www.gsmfc.org/seamap/picture_guide/Crabs/stenocionops.pdf

http://www.gsmfc.org/seamap/picture_guide/Crabs/nibilia antilocapra.pdf

http://www.gsmfc.org/seamap/picture_guide/Crabs/libinia emarginata.pdf

http://www.gsmfc.org/seamap/picture_guide/Crabs/homola minima.pdf

see if any look like the one you have.

 

[Acrophet]

Looks like the 2nd one:
Furcate Spider Crab

 

[figuerres]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13258978#post13258978 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Acrophet
Looks like the 2nd one:
Furcate Spider Crab

Cool, from the front view photos I could not see all the details.

if you look at the others I listed and at the stuff on that side there are a whole lot of odd critters out there