Pairing marine beta GD moray eel and reef lobster?

[Robka]

I have a Golden Dwarf moray eel 12" and a 4 1/2 " Marine Betta and wanted to find a crustacean that could possibly live with these two. I was thinking about a Hawaiian Reef lobster would be large enough to live in this tank if I get one at least 3" long? What do you think?

Thanks,

Robka

 

[Reef264]

It's a gamble.My Zebra Moray doesn't pay attention to any crustaceans.Cleaner shrimps generally do well with certain Eels.The Marine Betta however, I can't speak for.You may have luck with the reef lobster.Due to the small size of the GDM, and the 1/4 Size of the reef lobster.

 

[Rapide]

My betta leaves all shrimps alone. I have 4 Lysmata amboinensis, 2Lysmata wurdemanni, 6 Rhynchocinetes durbanensis, a pair of Stenopus hispidus, even a pair of Stenopus tenuoirostris!! Not even my Niger trigger have eaten them... Dozens of hermits, countles Palaemon elegans, and some crabs - all still there.

 

[Robka]

It's a gamble.My Zebra Moray doesn't pay attention to any crustaceans.Cleaner shrimps generally do well with certain Eels.The Marine Betta however, I can't speak for.You may have luck with the reef lobster.Due to the small size of the GDM, and the 1/4 Size of the reef lobster.

Thanks for the input

My betta leaves all shrimps alone. I have 4 Lysmata amboinensis, 2Lysmata wurdemanni, 6 Rhynchocinetes durbanensis, a pair of Stenopus hispidus, even a pair of Stenopus tenuoirostris!! Not even my Niger trigger have eaten them... Dozens of hermits, countles Palaemon elegans, and some crabs - all still there.

Thanks, I doubt my GD Morey would leave shrimp alone but he is at max size of 12" so I was thinking the 3-4" reef lobster would help clean up the tank and be large enough to not be bothered by the eel. Maybe hermits (with the shell protection would also be safe from the eel? I wonder if a reef lobster and hermits could co-exist? I have only had the Marine Betta a short time (I was thrilled to find a captive bred specimen cudos 2 ORA) It is one of the most interesting and beautiful fish I have ever had. He is the only other resident in my 50 gal "GDM eel tank". What other fish do you have with your MB? They say Flame Hawkfish and 6 line wrasse would be good tank mates, but I don't want to put any fish with my Betta that would cause him to hide. I know these fish can be reclusive (+ he is such a slow & deliberate feeder), but in my "eel only" tank he is out and about most of the time, which I love:wave:

Thanks again for the input,

Robka

 

[Rapide]

Well... I have all sorts of fishes there. Tangs, large and dwarf angels, clowns, wrasses, gobies, butterfly, puffer, trigger, dottybacks - you name it!

 

[hkarmy25]

Sounds like everyone else has had better luck with their MB than me. If its close or can fit in its mouth, its game over. That goes for fish or crustaceans.

 

[Robka]

Sounds like everyone else has had better luck with their MB than me. If its close or can fit in its mouth, its game over. That goes for fish or crustaceans.

So your MB took out all crustaceans ( how large is your comet and is he wild caught & how large now)? Did he suck hermits out of their shells? I doubt a 3-4" reef lobster would fit in his mouth plus the fact that my MB is tank bred and raised on frozen mysis I think I would have a better chance

Would the reef lobster bother my 12" GDM eel? From what I've read the reef lobster only gets 5" so I think the eel would be fine?

 

[Robka]

Well... I have all sorts of fishes there. Tangs, large and dwarf angels, clowns, wrasses, gobies, butterfly, puffer, trigger, dottybacks - you name it!

Does your MB swim out in the open water with all those other fish and how big is he?

Thanks for the info:fun4:

 

[Rapide]

I guess I have quite good amount of pods and other critters for the betta to consume, so it doesn't eat hos other tank mates. He rarely swims in the open water, but doesn't actually hide behind the rocks either. I'd say that he is like dwarf angels, you know, feels more at home near the rockwork.
My MB even eats flakes! He's well trained He is 4 - 5 inches at the moment, not really sure... Look's itsy bitsy tiny little fishy to me

 

[Robka]

I guess I have quite good amount of pods and other critters for the betta to consume, so it doesn't eat hos other tank mates. He rarely swims in the open water, but doesn't actually hide behind the rocks either. I'd say that he is like dwarf angels, you know, feels more at home near the rockwork.
My MB even eats flakes! He's well trained He is 4 - 5 inches at the moment, not really sure... Look's itsy bitsy tiny little fishy to me

Thanks again for your input:fun4:

Does anyone else have experience with a reef lobster (Debelius' Reef Lobster (Enoplometopus sp.))? This is a bare bottom tank (some sites say they need to burrow,but can be kept without if caves are provided?) but has live rock and plenty of hiding places.

Thanks again,

Robka

 

[ilikefish34]

+1 for it being a gamble.

i would be willing to bet that it goes well until the lobster molts and becomes vulnerable despite its size advantage. but some cheat and get away with it and others don't. Reef264 has his Zebra with crustaceans but mine ate two cleaners within minutes of being added to my DT. as it turned out, live crawfish were its favorite treat. i think the cleaners would be worth the risk. perhaps keeping them in a breeder cage within your DT would give them a better opportunity. the eel could get used to their scent without associating them with meal time. good luck.

 

[ilikefish34]

also, i had a marine betta that left my shrimp alone but did pick off a few hermits right out of their shells. i agree with Rapide about their shy behavior, but in a tank without other pelagic fish, it could become more bold as my did.

 

[jimmy frag]

the reef lobster will go for the eel and eat him alive. i have seen it before. the eel lasted a good 3-4 days as the lobster ate him alive starting at the tail. was quite a site to see.

 

[Robka]

the reef lobster will go for the eel and eat him alive. i have seen it before. the eel lasted a good 3-4 days as the lobster ate him alive starting at the tail. was quite a site to see.

Wow, how large was the eel & reef lobster? That is crazy, no way am I risking my GDM eel for a twenty dollar lobster.)

 

[Robka]

also, i had a marine betta that left my shrimp alone but did pick off a few hermits right out of their shells. i agree with Rapide about their shy behavior, but in a tank without other pelagic fish, it could become more bold as my did.

Do think flame hawkish would keep him in hiding , since they are not active swimmers?

 

[Robka]

Wow, how large was the eel & reef lobster? That is crazy, no way am I risking my GDM eel for a twenty dollar lobster.)

Do think flame hawkish would keep him in hiding , since they are not active swimmers?

U guys still out there?