Frogspawn question

[mpakiela]

I am new to SWF. I've had a 14g biocube for about 6 weeks. I currently have 3 scarlet hermits, 2 emeral crabs, a clownfish, a horseshoe crab, and a few miscellaneous hitchhikers. I'd like to get frogspawn coral. I've read up on some easy starter corals, and this isn't one of them, and also listed on this site as "difficult". LFS has been somewhat helpful so far, and they didn't seem to think it was a problem for a newer tank. Any suggestions?? Should I stray away from this coral and get something else instead?
THANKS

 

[blueram]

It should be ok as long as the tank is stable. I am fairly new to Salwtwater too and my frogspawn has been doing very well. I put it in my tank when it had had only been set up for a month. It has grown quite a bit and seems pretty happy. I know some sites list the Forgspawn as a difficult coral but I personally think that this coral is not that difficult to care for.
Cheers

 

[mpakiela]

LFS wanted to know why I wanted corals instead of anemones. Seems to me, that from reading all of these posts, that anemones are much more difficult . I'm hoping that my clownfish will host in it. He seems lonely.

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by mpakiela
LFS wanted to know why I wanted corals instead of anemones. Seems to me, that from reading all of these posts, that anemones are much more difficult . I'm hoping that my clownfish will host in it. He seems lonely.
Frogspawns are like Xenia and Torch Corals they are hit or miss as I am told. Sometimes they take well to tanks sometimes they dont. Obviously water quality and lighting make a difference and improves your chances of having a happy coral. I have Xenia and a Torch, my torch wasnt so happy on the bottom of my tank but i moved it to the top and it is huge now. Also be careful of flow some corals need moderate flow some non at all. And others need alot of it, my torch gets a little and my Xenia does too. I have fragged (accidentally) a piece of my xenia and it is taking off like mad ironically it attached itself to a piece of LR that was shaded and it has since stretched and grown toward the light and is growing like wild now.
Anenomies IMO are harder and they are mobile so you can never determine where they will end up. I have had 2 a condi and a rose BT, i got rid of my Condi because it ate a clown fish of mine, I have no idea why....But I have a very very small BTA that I hope my Black and White Ocellaris will host. They also can and will fight with any rivals weather its a coral or another anenomie until one gives up and moves or is defeated, if they happen to cross paths. They wont readily seek eachother out. You need to be careful and watch your tank with some anenomies.
Your chances of your clown hosting will increase with the type of clownfish you have.

These are some of the things I have been told and have experienced, I too am new to this hobby and I am always getting suprises with my tank.

 

[clay12340]

Don't horseshoe crabs get to be like 10" long?

 

[bambam_250r]

Frogspawns are easie IMO. Moderate flow and light. Good feedings. They are great tank additions because they flow around.

 

[mpakiela]

yeah, he's really tiny right now, but we've already talked with the LFS about giving him to them. So far, he's the best thing we own. He's definately the most active, he's neat to look at with his odd body shape. I think we're going to replace him with a watchman goby

 

[mpakiela]

I'm concerned about getting the frowspawn and not knowing what and/or how to properly feed it. I do like their movement

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by Clay12340
Don't horseshoe crabs get to be like 10" long?
Some do, but it takes for ever for that to happen. I have one in my tank hes barely 1" long and hes a great sand sifter. If he gets too large for the tank i will relocate him.

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by mpakiela
I'm concerned about getting the frowspawn and not knowing what and/or how to properly feed it. I do like their movement
I wouldnt worry to much about that. If you do a weekly water change of 20% or so you are replacing most of the trace elements that corals eat and you may not have to supplement at thing. Cyclops and some phyto you can dose once a week if you want but very small amounts. And just test your calcium, and Alk on a regular basis along with keeping your other perameters in check. To start off that should be pleanty, well thats what i do and my tank is perfect and my corals are happy. Just becarful if you dose, use very very small quantities too much is like over feeding your fish.

 

[mpakiela]

I think the horseshoe crab intentionally tries to leap off of my LR onto the clownfish. The fish is as big or bigger - and can swim away. which then leads to the crab leaping off the rock and landing on the sand instead - usually upside down. Clownfish seems annoyed most of the time by this. The crab has not been a problem yet with his size. It's definately good at sifting, or plowing and from what I understand, it takes about 12 years for them to get fully grown. Do the crabs/snails, etc cause problems to the corals by walking over them?? My horseshoe is all over the tank lately. I wonder if it will try and eat the coral. Maybe I'm just overly worried....

 

[bizkitpug]

Actually horseshoe crabs will more than likely starve to death. They are extremely hard to keep and most often die in captivity. They are very fun to watch and it was my favorite thing in my tank. I didn't find out how difficult they were to keep until after mine died. That is when I was flooded with the details I should have known beforehand.

 

[b0bby1]

i have a frogspawn under pcs n its doing great, easy to keep. any pics of that crab?

 

[gharner]

bobby 1, what tank do you have? im thinking of getting frogspawn for my 12 gallon aquapod. i have the stock lighting and wasnt sure if the lighting would be strong enough for the frogspawn.

 

[nygel]

stock would be fine for frogspawn, they arent a real demanding coral in any means.