Inverts
Wherever possible the photographs are of the animals living in my reef tank.
First life into the aquarium was the first of the clean up crew. 4 Trochus snails and ten micro hermit crabs.
Since then a variety of 'clean up' crew have been added as well as some larger inverts.
Cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
An active and colourful addition to the aquarium. Spends time hanging upside down in his favourite cave. A general scavenger who occasionally tries to clean the blenny who doesn't understand what is happening and swims off.
Comical to watch and harmless to other tankmates. Has become very active, swimming upside down at feeding time. Good fun watching him try to catch floating food. This one seems to shed his exoskeleton far more regularly than the other two shrimps.
Sadly lost this shrimp from old age after around 2 1/2 years in my reef. (22.5.13)
Have added two small shrimp (29.5.13) they spent a week or so around a powerhead before venturing onto the rocks.
approx size 2.5"
Comical to watch and harmless to other tankmates. Has become very active, swimming upside down at feeding time. Good fun watching him try to catch floating food. This one seems to shed his exoskeleton far more regularly than the other two shrimps.
Sadly lost this shrimp from old age after around 2 1/2 years in my reef. (22.5.13)
Have added two small shrimp (29.5.13) they spent a week or so around a powerhead before venturing onto the rocks.
approx size 2.5"
Fire or blood shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
Fire shrimp are shy animals and need lots of hiding places. Hopefully this will be fine as I have lots of caves and crevices for him(or her or it because they are hermaphrodites) to hide in . Mine has found his cave already. Related to a bat as he is always upside down! Out and about much of the time. More visible than I thought he would be.
Approx size 2"
Approx size 2"
Boxing, or Coral Banded shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)
A lovely, aggressive looking but generally peaceful member of the reef community. This shrimp is a striking looking animal and a good general scavenger. Some authorities suggest it may hunt and eat bristle worms.
Somehow lost a claw not long after putting in the tank but molted a couple of weeks later, complete with two claws, amazing.
Just wanders around the aquarium, never in a rush like the others, just cool and aggressive looking!
approx size 3"
Unfortunately have lost this shrimp after a couple of years. It would seem the lifespan for Boxing Shrimps is about 2/3 years. No knowing how old she was when I got him so I reckon she was an old lady. Have introduced a new smaller one as they are a real feature of my reef.
My new shrimp, left, has also lost a claw. Be interesting to see what happens after next moult.
Amazingly back to two claws. I understand the science behind this but still find it amazing. Maybe related to previous shrimp as she did this as well.
Somehow lost a claw not long after putting in the tank but molted a couple of weeks later, complete with two claws, amazing.
Just wanders around the aquarium, never in a rush like the others, just cool and aggressive looking!
approx size 3"
Unfortunately have lost this shrimp after a couple of years. It would seem the lifespan for Boxing Shrimps is about 2/3 years. No knowing how old she was when I got him so I reckon she was an old lady. Have introduced a new smaller one as they are a real feature of my reef.
My new shrimp, left, has also lost a claw. Be interesting to see what happens after next moult.
Amazingly back to two claws. I understand the science behind this but still find it amazing. Maybe related to previous shrimp as she did this as well.
pincushion urchin (Lytechinus variegatus)
Bought this little critter to live in the sump and keep the surface of the sand bed loose and clean. Will have to see how it gets on. May need to put a couple of bits of live rock in so it has somewhere to hide. Not sure about the main tank as they can eat coralline algae and possibly my feather duster worm.
Giving him a go in the display tank. Definitely eats coralline algae but at present is ok and fun to watch. Real character in the main display. Tends to knock things over on a regular basis. Decorates himself with anything he can pick up. Has got a couple of zoa colonies on his back as well as an occasional snail or hermit crab!! Had to get a second one of these as they are great fun. No problem at all.
Now started to decorate himself. How he got the GSP on board I don't know.
Have added a second of these little chaps to the display tank as they are great on the reef.
Looks brilliant from underneath. You can see how he can scrape off coralline algae with that beak life mouth.
Giving him a go in the display tank. Definitely eats coralline algae but at present is ok and fun to watch. Real character in the main display. Tends to knock things over on a regular basis. Decorates himself with anything he can pick up. Has got a couple of zoa colonies on his back as well as an occasional snail or hermit crab!! Had to get a second one of these as they are great fun. No problem at all.
Now started to decorate himself. How he got the GSP on board I don't know.
Have added a second of these little chaps to the display tank as they are great on the reef.
Looks brilliant from underneath. You can see how he can scrape off coralline algae with that beak life mouth.
Hermit Crabs
I have added a variety of hermits and all seem to be doing well without causing too many problems. Difficult to always know the species as they seem to be known by a variety of names. I have a large electric blue? that takes a fancy to a large snail shell on occasion. Eats the snail and moves in!! Amazing to watch the hermits select a new home and move in. I have three red legs but one seems more orange than the other two. Really good little article in UltraMarine magazine discussing the fun that can be had from keeping hermits as oppose to just having them as clean up crew.
CUC doing its job
I wonder how often people see this scene in their reefs. My electric blue hermit making a meal of a snail. People often say that hermits and snails shouldn't be kept together because the hermits kill the snails and use their shells. In this instance I know the snail was already dead. It had been on the sand bed for a couple of days before the snails began to eat it and thus clean up my reef. I have no doubt that one of my hermits may look upon the empty shell as a desirable home. I must admit I like this natural interplay within my tank and am even prepared for the odd snail loss should they happen.
Serpent Starfish (Ophiolepsis superba)
Thought I would add to the biodiversity in my reef. All I have read tells me these chaps are good scavengers and harmless in the reef, Put this picture on as I only ever see an odd arm here and there. Very secretive little, or not so little critter.
Have seen him, or should I say parts of him a couple of times, just hoping he is still around.
Since I have removed the big hitchhiker crab I have seen him at lights out a couple of times, coincidence.
Now know where to look to see an arm waving around. Very occasionally see him wandering across the sand at night. He is getting bigger!
Have seen him, or should I say parts of him a couple of times, just hoping he is still around.
Since I have removed the big hitchhiker crab I have seen him at lights out a couple of times, coincidence.
Now know where to look to see an arm waving around. Very occasionally see him wandering across the sand at night. He is getting bigger!
Deep sea starfish (Paraferdina plakos)
I normally like to know a lot about an animal before I put them into my little reef. Firstly need to know if it is going to be safe but more importantly will I be able to look after properly.
Well in this case I found information about this species very hard to come by. I am pretty sure it is safe in my setup. It wont harm anything and there is nothing that would harm it. As to whether I can keep it fed and happy I'm not sure. The reef is mature with a great diversity of bacteria and other microscopic life. I have read these are detrivores and also feed on bacterial film on the rock, sand and glass surfaces. Hopefully this will be ok.
After nearly five weeks in my reef she is looking healthy and is moving around on the glass. She stays pretty near the waterline and has not gone onto the rocks. I hope she is feeding but not sure what she is feeding on. I assume some sort of bacterial film on the glass. Don't know why she stays near the waterline though.
The first big step I think has been successful introduction into the reef. A four hour drip acclimatisation seems to have avoided any kind of shock due to differing water parameters. The second step I presume is the lack of any conflict or adverse interest from other creatures on the reef.
I loved the colours and size of this little creature and it adds to the diversity and interest on my reef.
Well in this case I found information about this species very hard to come by. I am pretty sure it is safe in my setup. It wont harm anything and there is nothing that would harm it. As to whether I can keep it fed and happy I'm not sure. The reef is mature with a great diversity of bacteria and other microscopic life. I have read these are detrivores and also feed on bacterial film on the rock, sand and glass surfaces. Hopefully this will be ok.
After nearly five weeks in my reef she is looking healthy and is moving around on the glass. She stays pretty near the waterline and has not gone onto the rocks. I hope she is feeding but not sure what she is feeding on. I assume some sort of bacterial film on the glass. Don't know why she stays near the waterline though.
The first big step I think has been successful introduction into the reef. A four hour drip acclimatisation seems to have avoided any kind of shock due to differing water parameters. The second step I presume is the lack of any conflict or adverse interest from other creatures on the reef.
I loved the colours and size of this little creature and it adds to the diversity and interest on my reef.
Snails
I have quite a few snails, not sure how many as some die or on occasion have been evicted by my hermits! They do a great job and look good. I really like my nassarius snails, I have a variety of large ones and small ones. They are like submarines under the sand. I have recently added a very large Mexican turbo snail to do some serious damage to my hair algae.
Mexican turbo snail (Turbo fluctuosa)
This is an absolute beast of a snail. I thought it would be a bit of a pain, bulldozing things over in the reef . But they are great. Have now got two but could increase if they continue to behave.
This is an absolute beast of a snail. I thought it would be a bit of a pain, bulldozing things over in the reef . But they are great. Have now got two but could increase if they continue to behave.