Gathering your own stock?

[codyjp]

Has anybody here gathered their own creatures for their tank? I am thinking primarily crabs and tide pool stuff.
I am not entirely considering doing this myself since crabs are a dime a dozen but i am more curious about the safety of doing so? Any problems with hitchhikers etc?

 

[reefforbrains]

Much depends on your knowledge base and ID abilities for what your looking at.
If you have a start up new tank then the risks are minimal but putting the wrong crab or snail in a seniored tank could be disasterous.
Be sure to check with local regulations about what you can or cannot remove from your local waters before you go.
Happy hunting,
JMO

 

[codyjp]

I wasn't planning on doing it myself, i was just more interested in other peoples luck with it.
-C

 

[miaheatlvr]

I put some hermies I found along the beach in ISLAMORADA, FL so far so good!

 

[rara12]

I got emerald crabs, hermits, brittle stars of the florida keys and from off the jersey shore i got a ton of these black snails, i dont know the name of them but they are reef safe. Also every few week ends i go to the jersey shore to get grass shrimp to feed to fish and such, fresh is better.