Help... Something strang is happening??

[dnajarro]

Help... Something strange is happening??

Hi guys...
I have a 37 gallon that fully cycled about a month ago, and everything seems great.
Contents as of now are:
2 Green Reef Chromis
1 Peppermint Shrimp
1 Horseshoe Crab
5 Turbo Snails

The tanks cycle took me a long time due to my constant screw-ups but I finally figure patience is a virtue. The tank was being over powered by diatoms so I added 2 turbos and realized it was like setting a child free in a toy store. so I added 3 more(I know I need to add more) Ialso added two Green chromis and they see ok, So I then added the shrimp and the crab and they're all fine... execpt that I notice the two Chromis have whar looks like scrapes for bite in their sides and one has a big patch that seems to have appeared over night. I've not sure whats causing this. I read up on diseases and nothing seems to describe what I see on them. What could it be? Anyone out there have any ideas? please help..I wanted to start adding other fish...but I need to know if theres some I may be doing wrong. I also test all of my levels today and everything seems PERFECT. the only thing I havent a clue is the hardness..I need to but a test for that.

thanks in advance.

 

[Gealcath]

Well if you dont know already, Horseshoe Crab can get up to 4' long and will require a minimum of 100gl with LOTS of open spaces and a real deep sandbed (They like to burrow into the sand), in smaller enclosures they tend to be stunted and sometimes thier tail will get damaged from it being too cramped.

 

[Asfur]

Agreed withthe post above. The horseshoe really needs to go as they are clumsy and grow huge!

It seems to me like the fish have been atacked during the night. Chromis will usually find a hidey hole after dark so you might find there is a stray hitchhiker in the rock... Best thing to do is to go visit the tank at night after all lights are out armed with a red torch (99% of marine life cannot see red colour). You can use the red light to view the tank and none f the Nightliving creatures will be aware you are there.


You dont happen to have a Coral/Boxing Shrimp do you? they will redily take a sleeping fish if they are lucky to find one.

 

[cpn_aaron]

sounds like a hitchhiker all right. Could also be a stone crab. I had an outbreak of those in my tanks for about 7 months after my tank cycled. They ate about $250 worth of fish over their 7 or 8 little lives. Seemed like one who show up about one week after another, never more than one at a time. My only condolence for losing my fish was feeding them to my large clown knife one tank over who loved them.

A good way to find your hitchhiker is to get a small tupperware container. I use those cheapo Gladlock ones that are sold as single use. Cut two slit forming the top of a triangle with the base slit left uncut inot the lid. This allows a self closing one way door to find your friend in. This worked for me. I usually baited it with a larger anchove I was feeding my oddballs. Every morning I had a little crab in the container looking pissed off. Then he was clawless and into the oddball tank. Try baiting a trap to test, usually pulls out a hungry predator from within the rockwork. But take the trap out the next morning so you don't get any ammonia problems.

 

[dnajarro]

Hey thanks for the Help...., I'm going to try the tupperware trap suggestion for now and see what it gets me. The Shrimp, Horseshoe Crab(I plan on finding it a new home) and the snails seem fine. as of this morning the Fish looked fine too, but I'll keep my eyes peeled. I'll probably pick up one of those LCD keychain light in RED today.... See it that heps me view the tank at night. but if anyone has any other suggestion plese let me know.... thanks