Omg Awesome Deal @ Lfs!

lorene

lorene

Member
OK well I said I was gonna take this slow but OMG I just came across a HUGE deal at a pet store I visit from time to time.
I had been wanting a cleaner shrimp (lfs wanted $40 for reg size) I got a small adult for $15!!
I also got an emerald crab (lfs wants 20) for 5 bucks!!!
Ok I got some more LR plus these beauties!
Cleaner Shrimp=$15
Emerald Crab=$5
Peppermint Shrimp=$5
5 Hermit crabs=$6 (Total-NOT each)
1 Yellow tail Blue Damsel, 1 Blue Damsel and 1 unknown (VERY PRETTY) Damsel @ $5 each
Not bad hey?
Yeah I know, Damsel fish- But I LOVE them!
Now all I have left to get (Will be a while though-I spent WAY more than I planned!)
This is my final plan-Please feel free to offer any advice on the following choices:
1 Royal Gramma
1 Bicolor Blenny
1 Purple Firefish Goby
1 Mandarin Dragonet
1 Black Cap Basslet
1 Fridmani
1 Pajama Cardinal
1 Sally Lightfoot
1 Flame Scallop
1 Arrow Crab
Maybe an urchin
And more frags of corals to add to my LR
If I am heading way over my head with this somebody please tell me. I do so like my Damsels and they seem to be getting along just fine so far.....I have lots of hidey holes for everyone to feel safe in too. Will put up pics when I get my camera working. Want LOTS of feedback on how I am doing so far!
Water parameters are looking just fine so far too.....
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Take it slow...stocking too fast is not a good thing to do...Only one critique...the emerald crab..You can get 3 for $5.00 Price wise you did really good.
I know you like the damsels and I agree they are very pretty...Now that you have the damsels, you can no longer have the rest of the fish on your list, they will be killed since they are all docile and the damsels are aggressive.
The Fridmani dottyback, black cap basslet and royal gramma basslet, I don't think could be kept together anyway.
Fire scallops usually die, and sally lightfoots are only reef safe when they are young.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

I have some books to recommend...They are really good, and will help you allot, they did me. I included sample pages so you can see what great info they offer...




 
xcali1985

xcali1985

Active Member
If I remember correctly, you have a 29g Biocube correct?
If so the Damsels will destroy everything in the tank. Their is not enough room in there. If it was a 90 gallon that would still be pushing it. People seriously underestimate the aggressiveness of these fish. They don't even like each other, so another species dosent even stand a chance.
I witnessed 2 damsels take over a 55 gallon and kill 4 other fish.
 
lorene

lorene

Member
Originally Posted by Xcali1985
http:///forum/post/3153081
If I remember correctly, you have a 29g Biocube correct?
If so the Damsels will destroy everything in the tank. Their is not enough room in there. If it was a 90 gallon that would still be pushing it. People seriously underestimate the aggressiveness of these fish. They don't even like each other, so another species dosent even stand a chance.
I witnessed 2 damsels take over a 55 gallon and kill 4 other fish.

Yes, I have a 29 Biocube with stock lighting and filtration/flow.
As far as the Damsels go, they seem to be getting along just fine right now. I hope that will continue..... There are lots of hiding places for them too.
When you say they destroy "everything" do you mean the invertabrates and corals too? I sure hope not!
I have decided to "can" my idea of any more fish for right now and just enjoy what I have. I agree I may have gone a bit fast with this last purchase and am a bit worried on the immediate "overload" cycling wise. I will be purchasing another bottle of IO's BioSpira just in case I see any ammonia/nitrite spikes. It did fantastic with helping cycle my tank very quickly!
BTW Flower, Where can I get 3 Emerald Crabs for $5??? They are $7.99 or 3/$17.99 on SWFdotcom. I would like to put more in my tank if possible (How many could I keep in a 29BC?)
I also discovered that there is some kind of white crab that hitchiked in one of the pieces of LR I think it may be an anenome crab(?). Do I need an anenome to keep him? He is hiding in one of the holes in the rock and darted out this morning when I popped a frozen food cube in the tank for feeding.
 
truperc

truperc

Member
I apologize in advance if this seems critical, but your stocking plan has to be reconsidered.
I recognize you have already "canned" the idea on some of these, but I still think there is some value on understanding why.
I will preface my statements by saying these are generalizations, and you can always find exceptions out there.
Damsels - Very aggressive fish - do not do well together - become more aggressive with age - 3 in a 29 gallon yikes. yellow tail damsel tend to be the least aggressive.
Fridmani - good fish
Royal Gramma - good fish
Mandarin dragonet - tank is too small.
Flame Scallop - not likely to survive
I would not get a sally lightfoot or an arrow crab if you already have an emerald.
1-2 emeralds would be my suggestion.
I would forget the urchin for now, and maybe always. depends on the type of urchin.
IMO - I would return at least 2 of the damsels and opt for some less aggressive fish. If I was going to keep one, I would say the yellow tail.
 
lorene

lorene

Member
I do apreciate all the good advice given.
I am in agreement about the damsels. They arent "attacking" eachother but they do "dart" about and its not giving me the "image" of a peaceful tank.
I will try to return the damsels-However I will be keeping "Fats" my Domino Damsel as he seemed to be pretty calm by himself (He doesnt seem to be the most agressive-its the Blue Damsel that seems to have taken over the tank and now Fats just hides alot) I dont think they allow returns-there is NO guarantee on salts of any kind, but if not, my other lfs may buy them from me (at a cheaper price than I paid I'm sure but its better than nothing)
I am kind of leaning towards the idea of keeping Fats alone in the tank. I dont know why it just seemed more peaceful to watch when it was just him.
I will probably lean more towards more frags and LR and invertabrates.
I will probably pick up another Emerald Crab for now and maybe a frag or two, but that will be that.
I got my camera working and now will try to send pics of the Damsel I am not sure what kind it is-They told me it was a Damsel but I do not recognize it on any of the pics on SWFdotcom. Its very pretty, it also doesnt seem too "chasy" but I think I will just keep Fats and concentrate more on keeping a "Reef" Tank.
Again thanks for helping me learn so much more about this hobby!
 
browniebuck

browniebuck

Active Member
Get a couple shrimp...they add movement and they also help to keep your fish healthy (even if it is just one). Just be careful...I am not a reefer, but I have heard that there are a couple of shrimp that could pick on corals (the camel back shrimp I think is the one that I heard about). The skunk and the fire shrimp would be great additions...or you could go with one coral banded shrimp...they are all fun!
 
browniebuck

browniebuck

Active Member
I keep trying to edit my post...but it won't let me...
I just noticed that you already have a cleaner shrimp (skunk)...but you could still add another or you could add a fire shrimp...just avoid the coral banded shrimp, unless you want to see some shrimp on shrimp violence the record, one has claws, the other doesn't...who would win?????)
 
lorene

lorene

Member
Thanks for the advice!
I already have 2 Peppermint Shrimp-(My Aptasia is already disappearing fast!)
I also have 1 Cleaner (Skunk) Shrimp and may add 1 more (If recommended)
I have 1 Emerald Crab and may add 1 more (Again-If recommended)
I also have some kind of Crab (UNKNOWN) that hitchiked on my LR. He is all white in the front and has little brown back legs. I saw him just the other day while watching my tank. He was gnawing on some kind of yellowish orange tube creature type thing with bristle/fingers all over it. I am guessing it was a bristle worm but cannot be sure, if someone could advise what kind of crab (Cant take pic, he hides in a very small crevice in the LR)and what kind of creature he was eating??
And then gonna stick with Fats, and my frags
Anyone have any suggestions for coral frags? I dont want to spend a fortune (More than $15-20) on 1 single coral so I like getting the frags (5 for $25)
 
dreighter1

dreighter1

New Member
the crab that hitchhike from your live rock could be a gorilla crab. if this is the case than thats bad.. they eat your corals and could kill fish. my friend had tons of these in his tank. they can grow fast and get to the size of emerald crabs.
 
julie853

julie853

Member
Yap,I had a gorilla crab that was a hitch hiker from my rock and boy did he grow fast.
He was very hard to get out of my aquarium and he did eventually kill one of my fish.
 
lorene

lorene

Member
Originally Posted by dreighter1
http:///forum/post/3154037
the crab that hitchhike from your live rock could be a gorilla crab. if this is the case than thats bad.. they eat your corals and could kill fish. my friend had tons of these in his tank. they can grow fast and get to the size of emerald crabs.
I do not think its a gorilla crab. Mine is white body/face/claws and back underlegs are brown. The pics I looked up for gorilla crab looks nothing like mine. Mine is stark white in color in the front.
However, I could be wrong........:)
 
dreighter1

dreighter1

New Member
you never know what you can get from live rocks. but when gorilla crabs are young they have a white color body, hairy legs like emerald crabs, and when they get bigger they turn brown and sometimes their eyes turn red.. they can look like crabs from hell. i think they are
. they also are very quick and sensitive to movement.. meaning that if walked up to the tank it would jet back into a crevice or hole in your rock. there always hiding and usually only come out at night. I would look at it more closely next time its out and compare it with a gorilla crab and a anemone crab
 
loopy101

loopy101

Member
Hi there, it looks like your getting alot of great adivice from other members!
but i just wanted to see where abouts in the state you are located? some of the prices you listed are decent but some of them are very high priced! just wanted to give you a heads up and look around alittle there are a couple pretty decent lfs in the state if you look around a bit. and dont mind a hour or so drive. pending on where your located!
 
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