interesting inverts

firefish9

Member
what is the most interesting invert you think should go in a reef and recommend for me to add to my tank? thanks in advance.
 

mrstwig

Member
I think if I had to pick one, it would be the shrimp. I have two cleaner (skunk) shrimp, 2 peppermints, and a blood shrimp. The cleaners are out all the time where I only see the others occasionally, mostly at feeding time. They are all really cool creatures and I love their antics! Watching a shrimp clean a fish is really amazing!
 

tangs123

Member
yeah shrimp without a doubt
but the coolest invert that isn't reef safe is definately the octopus; but that is a whole nother story
 

nasovlam

Member
I'd have to go along with Mrs Twig regarding the (skunk) cleaner shrimp being the best / most enjoyable. They have personality (of sorts) and you actually get to see them. I have also kept blood cleaner shrimp and peppermints and you don't tend to see to much of them, in general. Banded coral shrimp can be nice and visible but don't always play well with others. The skunk cleaners will also try to clean your hand once they get used to you poking around in the tank for maintenance.
Emerald crabs are always a safe bet (at least for me, so far). They often stay out in the open and will help with algae control and clean up duty (although I think their reputation for valonia control is way overblown).
 

biggredd

Member
Is it cool to mix a skunk and a coral banded? I have a coral banded already.
I bought a 5 pack of the sand sifting crabs from here. Lost 2 but the other 3 are awesome. They swim around, even to the top, and then dive bomb into the sand. Fun to watch when they are being active.
 

mrstwig

Member
I've only had experience with one Coral Banded Shrimp and although I liked him and thought he was pretty cool to look at, he was aggressive and kept my realitively peaceful tank mates always "on the lookout" and hiding. I found my bangaii cardinal one morning without fins and still alive and that was the last straw. I decided he was just too aggressive for my reef tank and back to the fish store he went!
The skunk shrimp are always out and active. Always. For some reason they think they are the mascot of this dumb Condy anemone that I have and are always with it, no matter where it moves to. The peppermint and blood shrimp are both neat shrimp, they just are hardly ever out in the open unless they skitter out for a bit of food and skitter back.
My second favorite invert is my orange linkia star. I got him from this site about 6 months back and he was healthy but small. He is constantly moving all over the tank and climbing all over the rocks and has grown quite a lot. Of course I do not recommend a star for every one or every tank. My 90 gallon with approx 100lb of LR seems to be a good home for him.
My newest addition fish-wise is soon becoming a favorite too, a mandarin! I waited and waited until I thought I had a good population of pods both in my tank and in my fuge.Then I (nervously) purchased one. Wow, what a cool fish. He took some brine shrimp shortly after I put him in the tank but that's the last time I've seen him take frozen food. He just swims all over picking at the rockwork and sand. After checking out the pod population at night with a flashlight, I was amazed at how many of those things are crawling all over my tank! I stopped taking them out of the fuge and putting them in the main tank, I think I have more than enough! Very cool fish!
 

gatorwpb

Active Member
Just got a few inverts last night, thought I would post them for you to see...
The Emerald Crab is very similar in color to the rocks, kind of wish I had gotten Red Mithrax crabs.
EDIT:
Sorry, these are: Cleaner Shrimp, Flame/Firecracker Shrimp, Sally Lightfoot Crab, Emerald Crab.



 

nasovlam

Member
Mandarins (although obviously not a invert) are highly recommended if you have an established tank with a good pod population. I had one for at least a couple of years until my tank melted down last winter (power outage for 36 hrs -- back up generator also dead). It never ate anything I offered it (live brine, frozen foods, dry foods) but was always plump and happy from browsing the live rock. Very cool fish with interesting personality. Most fish ignore them. I had a nasty maroon clown that used to pick on him until he clamped onto the maroon's tail and didn't let go for about 15 seconds. Maroon didn't bother him too much after that.
 

firefish9

Member
[. I had a nasty maroon clown that used to pick on him until he clamped onto the maroon's tail and didn't let go for about 15 seconds. Maroon didn't bother him too much after that.
:hilarious The clown had it comin. The manderin must like sushiaed nemo
 

sac10918

Member
What about feather dusters, have you checked into them? They are really neat and come in lots of pretty colors. I like the hot pink coco feather dusters the best. I don't think they have specific requirements as far as lighting and establishment, but Im not certain.
Also, people who come over and see your tank are always amazed that the "fan thing" is an actual worm!
 

dieselndix

Member
Well, the shrimp are awesome...got a cleaner, a pep, and a fire...tey are all very cool
but, the feather dusters I ordered from here (3 various) for like $18 are VERY cool and are great to "fill in the coral gaps" since they seem to not be bothered my corals
 
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