Snowflake eel and mantis...

[Claudio D]

Hi all

I have a large (600gal system) reef and I really have more mantis that i really like, actually I olso have some non desiderable crabs.

thay all came with the live rock and they have grown significantly..

I was thinking on a snowflake eel to eliminate them

any comments...

Claudio

Caracas, Venezuela

the tank is 36 inch tall so is very difficult to try to catch them

 

[Frostyeel]

It will probably work to some extent but not perfectly. Make sure you get a large snowflake or let it grow some before you put it in the tank with the mantises or it might be in danger from them, and also realize that it is probably very unlikely that it will be able to get all of them and all of the crabs. My 180 gallon tank has had a full grown snowflake eel for 10+ years and just a few months ago there was a good sized crab molt sitting in the middle of the sandbed, maybe 3/4 of an inch across.

 

[bluewatr24]

get a zebra not a snowflake. the zebra have teeth designed for shellfish there primary diet compared to the razor teeth of a snowflake imop

 

[Claudio D]

What is the maximun size it will grow? (zebra and snowflake)
what about other fishes? (ocelaris, yellow tang, mandarin, 6 line w)

thnaks all for oyur responses

Claudio

 

[Frostyeel]

Snowflake: 2'
Zebra: at least 4', maybe more

Both are primarily shellfish eaters in the wild and have blunt shell-cracking teeth, and either would work with your tank. They will leave larger fish alone for sure but there are some stories of people's snowflakes eating smaller fish, either while the eel is in a feeding frenzy or when their eel just happens to like fish meat, but this is not common. I think a zebra would be safer in this regard, but the zebra has the issue of being big and knocking over rocks.

 

[bluewatr24]

zebras are also more passive once ur problem is gone they can be fed crawfish.

 

[musty baby]

I had a 26" snowflake in my 55 refugium with my smithii mantis for about 4 months. My mantis is healthier than ever. I'd suggest something else.

 

[mickey85]

Man, I wish I had that problem (too many mantis shrimp)

 

[Claudio D]

Besides the eel...

any other sugestion on crabs and mantis predators that are "reef safe", I do not feel like tearing down the aquarium in order to pick crabs and mantis

thanks

Claudio

 

[SkinnyPete]

I'd recommend against the zebra. They like crabs more than shrimp. It's probably a 50/50 shot that it will even show the shrimp any attention. My 2 1/2 foot zebra lives with 3 peppermint shrimp and 2 pistol shrimp...all of which just hang out in the eels cave. He took out all my crabs though - so, I know you are looking for alternatives to eels - but, I'd suggest snowflakes. My last snowflake ate everything invert.

 

[musty baby]

My last snowflake ate everything invert.

...except for mantis shrimp, in my case