Reef lobster pleopods

[Luis A M]

I have a pair of reef lobsters (Enoplometopus debelius) and they both seem to have only four pairs of pleopods.Is that possible?

 

[alans22]

dont trust the name "reef lobster" I'm on here for this very same reason. They are very untrust worthy, i have had one for a very long time with very few problems (minor soft coral eating, which ****ed me off) but now he has eaten both the fish in my tank over the past 3 hours.

 

[spawner]

Luis has them for a different reason. You got to feed them or they will eat your fish.
They love firefish and other gobies.

Luis do you want me to take some photos of a male and female for you? Haven't heard from you in a while.

 

[Luis A M]

My question was about the number of pleopods,as I see only 4 pairs while decapods typically have 5.
Well,reef lobsters are so called because they inhabit reefs,not meaning theyÃ"šÃ‚´re advised for reef tanks
TheyÃ"šÃ‚´re nasty critters,I keep my couple in a partitioned tank dedicated to them.I plan to mate and breed them

 

[spawner]

Luis, they have five, the males have smaller more retracted forward sets of 1st Plps than females. I'll get you some pictures in a few days.

 

[Luis A M]

Andy,youÃ"šÃ‚´re the lost one!
I can only see 4 pairs MaleÃ"šÃ‚´s 1st pair is prolonged among the last pp and end in vertically flattened appendix,copulatory I imagine.
Females have 4?normal pairs but a long slit (spermatheca?)among them.
Seems that Ron,Tony and other mods are not around since some time,too bad!

 

[spawner]

Luis,

They have five, might be your eyes

The male does have a very prolonged set up from, you almost can't see it unless you take a pair of forceps and pull them back. Females are their but also not very visable. Yes, females have very nice spermatheca between her legs.

I just broket the glass cover on the LCD screen of my Nikon, so I have to get it back from the shop and I'll take some pictures of the pleopods and the females spermatheca for you.

 

[Luis A M]

Hey,just noticed some major turmoil in RC with some key guys leaving
There are good pics of lobsters undersides in BaenschÃ"šÃ‚´s book.
I guess they should have 5,but could see only 4 using my glasses under the sun (checking molts)
How could you possibly break a Nikon screen?.Got excited with the scene and stuck your nose in it?:lol:

 

[spawner]

Ha

Where have you been lately anyway; summer sure must be nice down there? You know how excited it with a good sized spermatheca. :eek2: