View Full Version : question about tankmates
Robert
04-17-2003, 5:03 PM
anyone have suggestions for tankmates for a tank with crabs (3 horseshoe, 1 arrow, and a decorator) and a mandarin dragonette.
What type/size is your tank? Fish only, reef, etc?
Robert
04-17-2003, 10:29 PM
exact gallons unknown, approximmate diminsions are 7' long by 2' wide and 2 1/2' deep. wanting something simmilar to a reef, with fish and inverts but without corals. useing deep sand bed ( 8 inches) and LR for primary filtration.
ChilDawg
04-17-2003, 10:38 PM
252 US Gallons, but I'd make sure that you didn't get something longer than a foot, or else turning around might be a chore for that particular fish.
Robert we will need a lot more info to help you out. Just to narrow things down a bit. There are tons of possibilities for you.
First what do you like?
I assume that your tank is established if you are successfully keeping a Manderin. How long has it been up an running?
What king of lighting do you have?
What are your normal water perameters?
Are you still experiencing any swings in your specs?
How much live rock do you currently have?
Thanx G.L.C
Robert
04-21-2003, 12:24 PM
this tank is relatively new with 4 months running time, but was seeded with the contents of my 55. Useing NO lighting and around 175 to 200 pound of rock on an 8 inch DSB. Water parameters have been steady since late Feb.
OrionGirl
04-21-2003, 12:45 PM
I wouldn't add anything that will compete with the mandarin for the copos until it's taking prepared foods reliably.
Do you want aggressive fish, or true reef fish? Horse show crabs tend to have a high mortality in captivity. They live off the fauna in your sand bed, and even in established tanks can deplete a tank quickly.
For fish, you could easily go with one angel, and maybe a lionfish (though smaller fish would be out). You'll have to avoid some of the obvious choices, like triggers, since they will make the crabs into a snack. Look into eels--you could house a couple, though once more small fish and mobile inverts would be a snack eventually.
MonoSebaelover
04-21-2003, 6:41 PM
Eels will eat crabs too! Trust me, I have first hand experience. I once had a hairy crab that killed my Eibl Angel and saw it the next morning chowing it, so hurridly caught the crab and dropped it into my then 55 gallon with an Arothron manilensis puffer, Niger Trigger, Huma trigger, Lion, and 2 ft Zebra Moray Eel, by the time it hit the bottom and the Eel got it, it had 1 eye, 1 leg and its shell! Triggers, Puffers, and Eels will destroy crabs with great pleasure! Like Orion said do you want reef or FO fish? If you want fish only you could do a Butterfly, Dwarf Angel, Lg Angel, Tangs, etc (not all but just some ideas). I have a 209G and know how nice they are! Mine is full of Triggers, Wrasses, Eels, and 2 Groupers. Next week I am going to add a 4" Juvie Imperator Angel. So excited.