View Full Version : Coupla questions....
STaNgXs
11-11-2003, 10:47 PM
Where do i get a vacume for my tank, and how much do they cost? how do they work?
second question... what do you guys think about this blue lobster for a tank? i think it's awesome, and it stays really small :cool: local Petco has them...
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1641
valerie
11-12-2003, 2:11 AM
You get a gravel vac at your LFS or petstore.They can be the really simple ones that are only a hose and tube that cost about 5$ or you could get a python(dont' know how much they cost in the states).
A blue lobster is indeed cool but not suited for a community tank. They will eat anythign they can get their claws on with will include any fish in the tank. I used to keep a regular brown crayfish and nothign was safe from him. He ate a few fish i put in their with him and any plant i tried. Best to keep crayfish in species tanks.
Prometheus
11-12-2003, 12:52 PM
Originally posted by valerie
You get a gravel vac at your LFS or petstore.They can be the really simple ones that are only a hose and tube that cost about 5$ or you could get a python(dont' know how much they cost in the states).
The one I got (from petco) was about 6.50 (has a larger mouth tube). the python was close to $20bucks... Other than a longer hose, there wasn't I reason I could see for the huge price difference...
You can get syphon hoses at Wal-Mart as well...
Blue Lobsters are a definete no no with community fish... Like valerie said, they're eat all of your fish, and believe me they're capable of grabbing them.
STaNgXs
11-12-2003, 3:01 PM
The Hammers Cobalt Blue Lobster is generally peaceful, except with its own kind. They will not typically bother fish, unless they are very small, and slow enough for the lobster to catch.
i don't know, they say these don't get bigger than 5", i don't really see it eating any live fish...
tomm10
11-12-2003, 3:10 PM
I have never heard anyone who has owned a blue lobster call it peaceful. The fact that it is typically alone in its own tank at the Petsmarts/Petcos just reinforces that to me.
Perhaps, if you had a very large tank where the lobster could claim some space for himself that the rest of the fish wouldn't feel the need to use, it would remain peaceful. It sounds like a big risk to me so I'd steer clear.
If you desperately want it you might try it in a separate tank and test out a few fish with him. I certainly wouldn't just plop him into an established tank.
BTW, I've also heard they are messy so you'll need that vacuum :D
valerie
11-12-2003, 5:28 PM
I would definately not call crayfish peaceful. They will eat anyhtign they can get their claws on. Mine was only 2" and could catch fish. I've heard of them eating 6"frontosas. Get one for a community tank at your own risk.
The difference between phythons and regular gravel vacs is pythons attach to your sink so you dont' need buckets. Pythons make it much easier to do water changes if you have bigger multiple or bigger tanks. I couldnt' live without mine. It reduced the time it took for water changes from a few hours each week to under 1 hour for all 6 tanks.
hokiems
11-13-2003, 12:36 PM
I've seen posts like this before, and I just want to add my 2 cents. I have had two different blue lobsters, in two different tanks. The first one was housed in a 20H with a small school of lemon tetras. He died of old age (they only live about 18-24 months, I believe). He was about 6 inches long. The second one is currently housed in a 29g with 5 tiger barbs and a female peacock cichlid of some sort. He's up to 3.5 inches now. We have NEVER had a problem with aggression. They hide most of the day, but come running out as soon as they smell the food in the water, and wave their claws around like they are bad*sses. Every now and then, a tiger barb will try to take a shrimp pellet out of his claws and he will lunge at the fish, but he never goes after them. As soon as the fish leaves his food alone, he goes back to eating. So in my opinion, the blue lobster aggression issue is overblown sometimes.
Of course, you may end up picking out a butthead of a lobster, so take this with a grain of salt.
Mark