View Full Version : My newest inhabitant!
AnnetteG
03-29-2008, 4:48 PM
I have wanted one of these since before I started with SW! I went to a membership drive for the local reef club today, held at a LFS. They were giving 20% off to members and I was joining today, so of course, I had to pick up something! The store had really stocked up with things we don't see every day. I was SO excited when I saw they had this little guy! I think I'm going to call him Elton, because he's dressed rather flashy.
I know someone is going to tell me he's going to eat everything in my tank, but I couldn't resist.
Catpicklesdog
03-29-2008, 5:10 PM
Cute aren't they???? Keep the photo of him because that's probably the last time you'll see him if mine is anything to go by! Before I rescaped I knew where his cave was and would dangle a bit of cockle or similar in front of it and he would stick out a claw and grab it. Since I've rescaped, I haven't seen him. I know he was alive a few weeks ago because he molted for the second time.
As to eating everything in the tank. He hasn't touched anything he shouldn't!!:grinyes:
journey0820
03-29-2008, 5:13 PM
What is it?
I have wanted a purple lobster for as long and I have been into SW myself, but every time I ask about reef compatability I get a loud "DONT DO IT", so I haven't. I am usually not like that either.. I usually pick out something I like, come home with it, then read about them. The lobster was one that just didn't look to safe to start with so I hesitated and asked first..
Let us know how it does, because I would still like one, but want to hear some more possitive experiences first.
Catpicklesdog
03-29-2008, 5:40 PM
What is it?
It's a reef lobster (Enoplometopus spp).
Ace, this is what it says about them in PocketExpert guide Invertebrates: Good aquarium animals. Harmless to most reef aquarium inhabitants. Need vigorous water movement....
.... They are facultative predators/scavengers, but despite their rather awesome claws, they are relatively harmless in a reef tank. And like I said above, I've had no problems with mine and I've had him for nearly 3 months now.
AnnetteG
03-29-2008, 6:09 PM
I'm going to watch him VERY closely when I let him out into the tank here in a bit. Hopefully I'll be able to see where he decides to live so I can get a glimpse of him once in a while. Maybe after a while (months?) they'll figure out when it's feeding time and start coming out during the day. One can only hope!
Ace, I was hesitant too, but I'd seen recently that CPD has one, so I decided to go ahead and go for it. I'll keep ya'll posted on his behavior! :)
Catpicklesdog
03-29-2008, 6:12 PM
I'm going to watch him VERY closely when I let him out into the tank here in a bit. Hopefully I'll be able to see where he decides to live so I can get a glimpse of him once in a while. Maybe after a while (months?) they'll figure out when it's feeding time and start coming out during the day. One can only hope!
Ace, I was hesitant too, but I'd seen recently that CPD has one, so I decided to go ahead and go for it. I'll keep ya'll posted on his behavior! :)
Oh that's right - blame lil ol me:grinyes:
Ctenopoma
03-29-2008, 6:13 PM
wow very nice! cool little thing.
im_a_tidyman
03-29-2008, 6:15 PM
i had a blue spiny lobster, went for everything, even ripping softies off the LR, and could shoot out of the water butt first! He went back to the LFS, he was the desturber of the peace! HOWEVER........i hope you have MUCH MORE luck with this fellow. They are amazing creatures.
Catpicklesdog
03-29-2008, 6:21 PM
i had a blue spiny lobster, went for everything, even ripping softies off the LR, and could shoot out of the water butt first! He went back to the LFS, he was the desturber of the peace! HOWEVER........i hope you have MUCH MORE luck with this fellow. They are amazing creatures.
Blue spiny's are known for that.
FeatherDuster
03-29-2008, 10:26 PM
Elton is very pretty. How large is he right now?
OgreMkV
03-29-2008, 10:52 PM
Annette, are you in Houston? I read about MARSH's member drive today. I was getting my tank so I couldn't go... well it's also a two hour drive for me.
AnnetteG
03-29-2008, 11:08 PM
Annette, are you in Houston? I read about MARSH's member drive today. I was getting my tank so I couldn't go... well it's also a two hour drive for me.
Yep, I'm in Houston! It was especially fun for me, since I left my kids at a friend's house and I was able to look at fish and corals at my leisure with no kids running around terrorizing the place. :)
Elton is very pretty. How large is he right now?
He's about 3", I'd guess. I think CPD is right though, I may never even know he's in the tank. Soon as I turned him loose, he found a cave and climbed through the rocks and disappeared. Princess, the coral beauty, backed in after him to show him she's the tank boss, I guess. She's so weird, she never chases anyone around at all, never acts nasty and hasn't ever harassed anyone new, but she always backs her rear end up to them a few times when they first go in.
Grins
03-30-2008, 11:06 AM
Blue spiny's are known for that.
Don't they also get much larger?