Want to Order, but nervous about hitchhikers

[GettingFiesty]

First of the year we are upgrading from a 30 gallon to a 90 and I want a nice tank. Would like to order a package from TBS but am nervous about the dreaded hitchhikers. While looking at a mantis is cool, I am nervous about having to catch them before they damage the stuff I already have. How hard is it to get rid of the hitchhikers? Thanks.

 

[Snarkys]

they dont do that much damage but for most of us it is hard to catch them .

 

[Fountainhead]

While they may be a concern, I certainly wouldn't avoid ordering TBS rock simply because of them.

They key is to keep a close watch very early on, before your tank is filled with corals and whatnot. When you spot a mantis or gorilla crab in a rock, just pull the rock out and use ro/di or carbonated water to eject him. I personally removed about 6 mantis and countless gorilla crabs from my 100 pound package. The only ones that actually caused problems were a pair of gorilla crabs that had grown VERY large. One clipped the leg from a serpent star, and another gashed open a star's disk. (Both stars survived and are still with me. The gorillas weren't so lucky.)

Don't worry about it. Yes, they can be pests, but look at capturing them as a sport. It gives you something to focus on while the tank cycles.

 

[ReefRob]

That was my concern too. I bought the 120 gallon package in February and I had three mantis and dozens of gorilla crabs. I spend a couple months really fretting about them while trying to catch the mantis and kill the crabs. Knowing now what I didn't know then, Snarky is right, they really don't do too much damage and I was overly concerned.

The benefit is the 30 or so beautiful and really cool porcelain crabs and ugly but really cool big pistol shrimp I got. They are still with me and I've only got a couple very wily gorilla crabs left whom I can't blame for any damage. You wouldn't want to add them to a tank but they aren't as bad as their reputation in my now 8 month experience anyway.

No regrets.

 

[GettingFiesty]

Thanks. I am in love with their beautiful rock (even though it is heavier than I would like). Last question----yeah, sure. I already have live rock from my 30 and am upgrading to the 90 in a reef ready tank--do you think I could get away with a 50 gallon package versus the 90? The way it is going, the package will cost more than my tank, stand, and canopy.

 

[tygger]

I dont see why not. I'm planning on getting a smaller package than the recommend size.