Anyone have any leads on where to get symbiotic crabs and the like? I’d really like to replace the symbiotic crab that was in my pocillopora as well as possible get some symbiotic shrimp for a clam or two, heck maybe even an anemone crab (if the clowns would allow it).
I think symbiosis is really awesome and would love to have more of it.
I dont know. k they just usually hitch hike in with the coral. i have several in different acros. one has lived in the green humillus i bought from TFP about 5 years ago. he’s still in the acro. dont know how long they live, but it seems like it could be a long while. They never get any bigger than 3/4 inch across and just hang in the web of the coral and tend to its cleanliness. in that respect they ar very good for the coral. they eat detritus and algae that might settle in the crevaces, and do no harm.
I’ve seen lots of them in Dr. Mac Corals when we visited his coral farm. lots of em. but i haven’t seen any place sell them individually. probably because they are too hard to pry out of their coral lair. they hang tough!!
So keep and take care of em, if you got em!!
They are good hitch hikers!
I like mine.
Not all crabs found in corals are good hitch hikers. There are some that will damage the coral more then help.(especially with the smaller frags us hobbyist tend to keep) There is a general rule of thumb that the hairy acro crabs are not good. Obviously there is a good chance there are exceptions to this and I doubt there is an awful lot of concrete research related to this and captivity.
I have to double what Ken said and say I have never seen acro crabs for sale in any LFS, wholesaler, or website. So acro crabs you just have to stumble across, but it doesn’t seem to be that difficult if you are looking specifically for them.
Anemone shrimp are often found on wholesaler lists though. Hidden reef had some recently, but some how sold out while I was at the store.
There are two species of anemone crabs seen in the hobby and according to popular rumor one does well even with out an anemone and the other just won’t live with out an anemone.(not these guys are mostly planktivores and if kept in smaller systems would likely benefit greatly from the addition of planktons)
I too find this part of the reef interesting. As always keep in mind the niche of both animals. Good luck in finding some critters to take care of.
LA gets them with some frequency. the acro crabs typically go for about $20.
Wow that seems like a lot to pay for something you can often get free, but I suppose if you wanted them bad enough. I would be surprised if you went through 4 LFS that carried across and couldn’t find a couple of crabs. Dr. Mac’s would be a good bet to check. Hidden reef might yeild good results as well.
I have 3 living in different corals. they hitched in on corals or large frags. they have all been with me for 3-5 years, and as far as i can see, do a great job of keeping the inner recesses of branching corals clean of detretus and algae that can kill the coral from the inside out. I like them. but when you first get on in a coral, just watch for any signs of it eating the coral. you should notice in a day or two, it cant take long to pick one clean. if nothing harmed, then you got a good one. a great little care taker.
Yea, like Shawn said LA has 'em. A friend over at reef-geeks pointed me to them.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+4&ddid=75000
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+1462+2914&pcatid=2914
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+525+2858&pcatid=2858
Like $15 for the crabs and $20 for the shrimp. A bit much but eh…
My crab did an awesome job of keeping the colony clean and healthy.
Pretty sure the shrimp I bought were $8 each. I wouldn’t have $20 to spend.
Those little crabs were pretty cool looking.
Yea, I don’t think I want them bad enough to spend $20 on them…I’d hate to spend $20 and have them lunch the next day
i think i might pay 20 at an lfs but online prob not.
[quote=“GreenFishyNHam09, post:11, topic:2314”]
i think i might pay 20 at an lfs but online prob not.[/quote]
I agree though to pay for shipping on something like that on top of the price, unless your getting something else also.
Blue zoo had them. I got mine for $8 last time i ordered…