Pix & ID: Critters that come in your rocks: the good and the bad.

[ReeferKimberly]

So hermits crabs, red or blue legged, are not recommended for reef tanks? Of any size? Could someone please explain why?

They aren't?

Never heard that. I always have had both and never had a problem. Every crab on earth can become a problem if starved to the point of eating things they normally wouldn't but both of those are generally considered reef safe. At least I thought they were.....?

I guess a desperate crab could kill a snail for its shell but I always provide mine plenty of backup shells. And I guess if one ate coralline people might not like that? Generally I really don't think they are a problem at all. I just feed mine and they eat that and pick at stuff. Never touched coral except to walk over them. The reds get a little bigger, I suppose a tiny frag could get knocked. They could also I guess steal food from coral, but all crabs would. Just thinking aloud why you might have been told that.

 

[airtime23]

That's that I thought too, Kim, but the first post of the thread says that no crab is reef safe.

 

[ReeferKimberly]

Well I guess everyone has their opinion I think it is just that though. Just as valid as anyone's but at least IME, not what most people think.

 

[reefgoddess808]

what is this? I know its not a great pic. Its got legs kind of like a shrimp, at least that's how it looks and its white in color.

 

[Yellow05gt]

Any ideas what this is?

 

[alexander_ktn]

what is this? I know its not a great pic. Its got legs kind of like a shrimp, at least that's how it looks and its white in color.

I can't really make it out, but I'd guess some kind of amphipod.

Any ideas what this is?

If it has a skeleton it might be a non-photosynthetic stony coral. Can you check if it has? Otherwise it is some anemone species.

 

[Yellow05gt]

It's hard to tell if it has a skeleton or not. Can't really see one though

 

[alexander_ktn]

Can you irritate it a bit (without hurting it ofc) so that it retracts its tentacles and upload an image of it in that state?

 

[Yellow05gt]

This is as good as I could get lol

 

[alexander_ktn]

Okay - it's an anemone, definitely.

You must have frightened her to death, lol, look at all the mesenterial filaments.

It doesn't look like a classical aiptasia, but might also reproduce in the tank, so you'll need to decide if you leave it alive for now or not.

 

[Yellow05gt]

Is it a pest do you think?

 

[alexander_ktn]

It might well become one, but it's very hard to say. Apart from the greenish mouth and the lacking zooxanthellae it certainly looks very similar to the aiptasia anemones we hate...

 

[Yellow05gt]

I thought the same thing, but I thought aiptasia was brown. This one is clear and the arms are more tubular

 

[alexander_ktn]

I don't think you'd risk much if you wait and observe a few weeks - that's what I'd do to be honest... (But I am a notorious wait and see type of guy, leaving crabs, worms, small mantis shrimp and everything else in my tanks until proven guilty )

 

[Sevenhours]

Hey guys,


Just got a fresh batch of live rock in today and one piece came with this clam on it. Anyone know what it is?

It started opening once the lights were off but it's easily scared

http://i.imgur.com/KD9d15K.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/vZPaBP0.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/fzIyEji.jpg

 

[pagojoe]

It'll be one of the oyster-type attaching bivalves rather than a clam. I can see obscure ribs on the shell, which make me think it's probably a Spondylus.

Cheers,



Don

 

[leemarch]

Sorry not the best picture but any idea what this is? It started off tiny and now is quite large?

 

[ReeferKimberly]

Sorry not the best picture but any idea what this is? It started off tiny and now is quite large?

 

[leemarch]

Sorry you didn't post anything?

 

[ReeferKimberly]

Tapatalk pics do not show up for a lot of people unless someone quotes them. I really don't know why. I was quoting so the pics would show up.