Porcelain crabs, Give me the run down.
- Thread starter tjkohler
- Start date
bang guy
Moderator
Mostly filter feeders of Zooplankton (dead or alive) but they are capable of light scavenging. Most are dependent on an anemone or other stinging host for protection (the claws appear to be for show but I'm not sure). A few variety do not host in anemone but require rock to hide in. Hardy, docile critters. It's about the only crab I consider to be reef safe.
jonthefb
Active Member
i agree with guy on this one. i had one once, early on in my reef days, and didnt have a host anem for him. well he was defenseless agains my coris wrasse, and before i knew it he was gone. dumb dumb dumb. he is reef safe, but just make sure you dont have any fish who like to eat crabs(wrasses, hawks, etc)
good luck
jon
good luck
jon
blennybabe
Member
If you have the requirements for an anemone, then they make great reef inhabitants. I have one that lives in my long tentacle. He is fun to watch. He steals from the anemone when i feed it krill. The pinchers are mostly for show but they can pinch a little. I found out when i tried to get him off the anemone to move him to another. He loves when i feed some daphnia (really small shrimp) and he can catch some in his big mits. he needs all the trace elements that other crabs do, but if you have a successful reef, i wouldnt worry about it. he grows algae on him about two weeks after molting. I love when he molts cause he gets clean. another neat thing to watch for is his last pair of legs. they are tiny and really flexible and he uses them to clean himself (dont knwo why he wont eat the algae...) all over. I definately recomend them for a reef. Good luck. Get a small one so you can see him grow...
jonthefb
Active Member
yeah that pretty guy above bangs post is a harlequin shrimp. they MUST be fed starfish, as this is their primary food source in the wild, so if you plan on keeping these guys, you have to make sure that your able (and have the heart to) cut up a starfish and feed it to them! they are very beautiful little bggers though. it jus tfigures that mother nature would make th emost beautiful things, aslo the hardest to keep alive! seahorses are another ex.!
good luck
jon
good luck
jon
nm reef
Active Member
Duhhhhh...this morn as I was waking up and checking the boards....I read porceline crab but posted a pic of the harlequin shrimp.......a true homer simpson moment if I've ever seen one....now I'll shut up and go to bed.....DUHHHHHHH
But ya know what.....46 years old and I was due a mistake sooner or later....just don't none of ya'all even think about tellin my wife I screwed up....she still thinks I'm perfect.....LMAO
But ya know what.....46 years old and I was due a mistake sooner or later....just don't none of ya'all even think about tellin my wife I screwed up....she still thinks I'm perfect.....LMAO