devildog999
That Guy
Thanks much SushiGirl
Pix & ID: Critters that come in your rocks: the good and the bad.
- Thread starter Sk8r
- Start date
debincalif
New member
Hitchhiker Question
Hitchhiker Question
I found a couple hitch hikers that came in on my LR. The first is a narcissus (sp?) snail, which should be fine. The other I'm 99% sure is an emerald crab. I've gone through this thread and checked out the crab ID info, so I'm pretty confident I've ID'd him correctly... but I've attached a pic just in case.
My question is this: many folks have warned against any crab other than hermits being in a reef set up. Do you think it's ok to leave him, or should I try to fish him out? Tank is still cycling, but it will eventually be home to softies, a few LPS, and some fish friends.
Thoughts??
View attachment 195481
View attachment emerald2.jpg
Hitchhiker Question
I found a couple hitch hikers that came in on my LR. The first is a narcissus (sp?) snail, which should be fine. The other I'm 99% sure is an emerald crab. I've gone through this thread and checked out the crab ID info, so I'm pretty confident I've ID'd him correctly... but I've attached a pic just in case.
My question is this: many folks have warned against any crab other than hermits being in a reef set up. Do you think it's ok to leave him, or should I try to fish him out? Tank is still cycling, but it will eventually be home to softies, a few LPS, and some fish friends.
Thoughts??
View attachment 195481
View attachment emerald2.jpg
SushiGirl
Premium Member
I can't get the pics to open. Easiest way to tell if it's a true "emerald" is if it has red in the elbow joints of its main claws, like this.
As for whether to keep it or not, that's personal preference. Most people who say they're evil don't feed them/expect them to find food on their own, then don't like the "food" they choose LOL. I've had 4 emeralds in my 55 softy/LPS tank that were well-fed & never hurt a thing.
As for whether to keep it or not, that's personal preference. Most people who say they're evil don't feed them/expect them to find food on their own, then don't like the "food" they choose LOL. I've had 4 emeralds in my 55 softy/LPS tank that were well-fed & never hurt a thing.
debincalif
New member
Let's see if I can try the pics again. He's hiding right now, so I can't tell if there is any red in his joints. One claw has an obvious white tip, and he is definitely green with hairy looking legs.
debincalif
New member
SushiGirl, you ROCK!
Crab is out of hiding, and indeed, he does have some red markings in the area you described. So now I'm 100% convinced that he is an emerald, and I'll keep him happy and well-fed.
Question: should I put something in there for him to eat while the tank finishes its cycle? He seems to be pretty happy grazing on the LR so far...
Crab is out of hiding, and indeed, he does have some red markings in the area you described. So now I'm 100% convinced that he is an emerald, and I'll keep him happy and well-fed.
Question: should I put something in there for him to eat while the tank finishes its cycle? He seems to be pretty happy grazing on the LR so far...
jasin401
New member
feather duster or some kind of coco worm feather duster..good hitch-hiker
cloak
New member
Hidden cup coral perhaps?
SushiGirl
Premium Member
ArrowCrab, it's a ball anemone. Some people say they aren't that bad, but they have infested my tank badly, I mean at least 30 (probably more) in my 55. They irritate the crap out of my zoas. I tried injecting with lemon juice, kalk slurry, and finally white vinegar. The vinegar is working, so I've been after them once a week. I'm going to start hunting them at night when they are really extended.
ArrowCrab
New member
Hmm, I kind of have half a mind to leave it and see how things go. My tank is very new and I wasn't planning on getting anything but fish for a few months, but a free hitchiker anemone... Are they aggressive towards only corals or fish and inverts also? Would my clownfish host if I left it there and it got big enough? If I put it in my sump would it stay there or spread to the DT? Sorry to bombard you with questions!
SushiGirl
Premium Member
It won't get large enough to host clownfish & they're not a true anemone but Pseudocorynactis, more related to mushrooms. If you could manage to remove it you could put it in the sump, but like aiptasia, any piece you don't get will grow another. They don't sting as bad as aiptasia or majano, but they do sting. My zoas hate them & will not open then wither away because they're closed & don't get any light. I cringe every time I hear someone say to leave them because they won't spread simply because I know first hand just how much of a plague they can be LOL. I started with one that I missed on a frag I got from someone local, and I decided one wouldn't hurt based on people saying that. That was a little over a year ago, and after looking last night after the lights went out I realized that I have much more than my last guess of 30. 2 months ago I counted 25 that I could see & that was with the lights on & only in the front of the tank.
My understanding is that this is the only way they reproduce, so if that's the case they wouldn't manage to get from the sump to the DT through the plumbing...well, unless they get through your pump because they do move around. Not sure what would happen if the pump chopped it up.
I just went through some pics I took the other night & got a pic of one spreading to create another. There are actually 4 in this pic.
My understanding is that this is the only way they reproduce, so if that's the case they wouldn't manage to get from the sump to the DT through the plumbing...well, unless they get through your pump because they do move around. Not sure what would happen if the pump chopped it up.
I just went through some pics I took the other night & got a pic of one spreading to create another. There are actually 4 in this pic.
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TheKman
New member
I will do that tomorrow when i get off of work in the afternoon & yes their are 2 feather dusters on that same shell.
ArrowCrab
New member
It won't get large enough to host clownfish & they're not a true anemone but Pseudocorynactis, more related to mushrooms. If you could manage to remove it you could put it in the sump, but like aiptasia, any piece you don't get will grow another. They don't sting as bad as aiptasia or majano, but they do sting. My zoas hate them & will not open then wither away because they're closed & don't get any light. I cringe every time I hear someone say to leave them because they won't spread simply because I know first hand just how much of a plague they can be LOL. I started with one that I missed on a frag I got from someone local, and I decided one wouldn't hurt based on people saying that. That was a little over a year ago, and after looking last night after the lights went out I realized that I have much more than my last guess of 30. 2 months ago I counted 25 that I could see & that was with the lights on & only in the front of the tank.
My understanding is that this is the only way they reproduce, so if that's the case they wouldn't manage to get from the sump to the DT through the plumbing...well, unless they get through your pump because they do move around. Not sure what would happen if the pump chopped it up.
I just went through some pics I took the other night & got a pic of one spreading to create another. There are actually 4 in this pic.
Ah well, off to the sump it goes I guess. Thanks for the info!
