View Full Version : ??? mantis shrimp
My 150 gallon reef has been setup for almost one year. I have had this small piece of live rock with porites and christmas tree worms for at least 6 months. There is this very small creature that is living in the rock in a hole that is small enough to be from a christmas tree worm. Could this be a mantis shrimp? I have never seen this little creature leave the hole, Have not had any unexplained deaths. This little creature just pokes it's head and claws out of the rock most of the time and quickly pops back into the hole if anything swims by. I don't have a digital so I can't get a pic. I am debating if I should get it out of the rock or leave it.
BrianH
10-07-2003, 7:56 AM
Try a google search on mantis and pistol shrimp and mabye you can ID it.
Brian
mogurnda
10-07-2003, 7:57 AM
I'd bet on a pistol shrimp. Do you hear random clickings in the tank? The hitchhikers I have are small, very shy and look like little lobsters or crayfish. The picture below was the best I could do.
OrionGirl
10-07-2003, 8:35 AM
Not often that I disagree, but I do in this case. Christmas tree worm holes are frequently colonized with a species of hermit crab that only occupies smal holes in rocks or corals, moving to larger holes occassionally, but never grabbing a shell and strolling around the tank. I've had several of these in with my christmas tree worms, and have never seen a rock of these worms that did not have one of these small guys. They do not get very large, but may pose a threat to the worms, since they will kill the worm to get a new, larger hole. Otherwise, they are an interesting addition.
kreblak
10-07-2003, 9:02 AM
What is the name of these hermit crabs, OG? I'd like to google them and see if they match a critter I have seen in my LR exactly twice. I only have one feather duster, but this thing lives in my LR and pokes out once in a while, just like you described.
OrionGirl
10-07-2003, 9:05 AM
I'll have to check around--I've only seen the name once, and can't recall it off the top of my head (shocking!). I should be able to find it this evening.
kreblak
10-07-2003, 9:13 AM
Gracias...
Does this hermit crab that you see have claws that seem over sized for its small size? This little one's claws, which are still small, seem to be huge for its body. I say this because of head size, I have never actually seen its body.
I have never heard any noises that would make me think it is a pistol shrimp. I can't rule that out though.
BTW it is white in color.
Thanks
OrionGirl
10-08-2003, 8:49 AM
Yep, that's what these little guys look like. They have long, slender antennas, which they will sweep around, and then slide through one claw to clean off the particles--which they eat. They are mostly white, with a tinge of red around the head, and small eye stalks. They tend to be shy--hiding whenever the Christmas tree worms hide.
I can't find a scientific name. I've searched through all my magazines, and can't even find the original article, which leads me to believe I found it on the web, and can not relocate it. Sheesh--I need to get better at bookmarking things. Sorry! I will keep looking though--I found a really cool crustacean ID key, and if I can spend an hour or two with it, I might be able to pin it down.
kreblak
10-08-2003, 9:29 AM
Hmmmm, that doesn't sound like the critter I have in my LR. Whatever it is poking it's head out of the crevices appears to be dark in color. Bear in mind that I have seen this thing twice, for about 3/4 of a second each time, but it looked dark. :confused:
Yup, that's it. Can you post the crustacean key? Maybe I can find it.
Someone on another forum came up with the generic name and I found the little guy! http://www.divegallery.com/coralcrabs.htm
Cute little bugger.
mogurnda
10-09-2003, 8:16 AM
It's great that you could find it. Does anybody know how long they live in aquaria? A lot of filter feeders, like fanworms, seem to do just great.
OrionGirl
10-09-2003, 8:40 AM
Aha! I kept calling them hermit crabs of various location (tube hermits, etc) and couldn't come up with it. At least now I know I am not crazy for remembering seeing a scientific name for them.
Well you were close! Coral hermit crab.
Don't know how long they live. Mine is doing great after 6 months.