Unwanted hitchhikers on live rock

[FornoW]

Im planning on starting my first salt water tank and have been reading up on
the use of live rock, and the pesky critters that can come with it (i.e.,
Mantis Shrimp, etc.). How likely is it for such things to come with the
live rock? I will be buying my rock from a LFS, that has already been
cured. I have read about how much trouble it can be to eradict these
shrimps from tanks if they are found, but have not seen anything that states
how often they are brought into tanks with live rock. Any input on this
matter is greatly appreciated.. thanks

[Richard Periut]

FornoW wrote:
> Im planning on starting my first salt water tank and have been reading up on
> the use of live rock, and the pesky critters that can come with it (i.e.,
> Mantis Shrimp, etc.). How likely is it for such things to come with the
> live rock? I will be buying my rock from a LFS, that has already been
> cured. I have read about how much trouble it can be to eradict these
> shrimps from tanks if they are found, but have not seen anything that states
> how often they are brought into tanks with live rock. Any input on this
> matter is greatly appreciated.. thanks
>
>
My 2 cents:

I had none of the aforementioned shrimp, but pretty much had a hell of a
time trying to get the gorilla crabs. Damn things are quick and smart.
Sometimes they wouldn't even come out for days after an initial attempt
of passing a metal skewer through their bodies.

HTH,

Rich

--
"Dum Spiro, Spero."

As long as I breath, I hope.

Cicero (Ancient Rome)





ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤° `°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.¸. ><((((º> ·´¯`·. , .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>

Let there be fish!!!

[Marc Levenson]

If you'll put the LR in a quarantine tank, putting it on a
piece of PVC or an eggcrate rack, then you can put some
meaty food in the corner of the tank. When the crab comes
off the rock to get the food, you can either remove the rock
or capture the critter. Repeat with all rock until done.
You may need multiple containers to carry out this process,
if you are working one rock at a time.

Marc


FornoW wrote:

> Im planning on starting my first salt water tank and have been reading up on
> the use of live rock, and the pesky critters that can come with it (i.e.,
> Mantis Shrimp, etc.). How likely is it for such things to come with the
> live rock? I will be buying my rock from a LFS, that has already been
> cured. I have read about how much trouble it can be to eradict these
> shrimps from tanks if they are found, but have not seen anything that states
> how often they are brought into tanks with live rock. Any input on this
> matter is greatly appreciated.. thanks
>
>

--
Personal Page:
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Rich R]

isent that half the fun , seeing what you get? lol

--


www.reeftanksonline.com
www.nydiver.com
ONLINE meeting rooms



"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
om...
> If you'll put the LR in a quarantine tank, putting it on a piece of PVC or
> an eggcrate rack, then you can put some meaty food in the corner of the
> tank. When the crab comes off the rock to get the food, you can either
> remove the rock or capture the critter. Repeat with all rock until done.
> You may need multiple containers to carry out this process, if you are
> working one rock at a time.
>
> Marc
>
>
> FornoW wrote:
>
>> Im planning on starting my first salt water tank and have been reading up
>> on
>> the use of live rock, and the pesky critters that can come with it (i.e.,
>> Mantis Shrimp, etc.). How likely is it for such things to come with the
>> live rock? I will be buying my rock from a LFS, that has already been
>> cured. I have read about how much trouble it can be to eradict these
>> shrimps from tanks if they are found, but have not seen anything that
>> states
>> how often they are brought into tanks with live rock. Any input on this
>> matter is greatly appreciated.. thanks
>>
>>
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>

[rjag]

I had no real problems until recently (except for a single teddy bear crab)
and then I purchased a batch of corals that came from a new source close to
home and my nightmares started.
a loud clicking announced the start of war. a posting on here revealed that
it was a shrimp.
a late night session captured a lovely wee red crab, a lovely flat as a
penny crab but then I discovered the clicking was still there.
then I happened to be sitting one day and out of the corner of one eye this
beautiful bright yellowish green shrimp was looking out of the middle of my
new yellow polyp colony. Oh **** a mantis. I tried cold fresh water dips
etc.. but they didn't work and I had to fill the holes in the rock with
milliput and kill that way.
that was it I THOUGHT.
again another day a few weeks later and this big claw came around a rock and
all was not well AGAIN.
another helpful poster here suggested a piece of mussel at the bottom of a
glass angled steeply and close to the location of the crab
two days later and it was caught.
fingers crossed I haven't been bothered for over 6 months but the clown fish
still wont leave the shelter of the furry mushrooms.
I hope you never have anything like this.

HTH

Robin

[Ray Martini]

I put 90lbs of uncured live rock in my 72 gallon bow front on Dec 21 and I
haven't seen a single living thing yet. Not a worm, or a shrimp, or a crab,
NUTHIN!!

Is that odd?

--
Happy Fishin' ...
Ray Martini

http://www.groove-alliance.com


"FornoW" > wrote in message
news:9L0Gd.2871$qu2.2528@trndny08...
> Im planning on starting my first salt water tank and have been reading up
> on
> the use of live rock, and the pesky critters that can come with it (i.e.,
> Mantis Shrimp, etc.). How likely is it for such things to come with the
> live rock? I will be buying my rock from a LFS, that has already been
> cured. I have read about how much trouble it can be to eradict these
> shrimps from tanks if they are found, but have not seen anything that
> states
> how often they are brought into tanks with live rock. Any input on this
> matter is greatly appreciated.. thanks
>
>

[kryppy]

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 09:36:51 -0500, "Ray Martini"
> wrote:

>I put 90lbs of uncured live rock in my 72 gallon bow front on Dec 21 and I
>haven't seen a single living thing yet. Not a worm, or a shrimp, or a crab,
>NUTHIN!!
>
>Is that odd?


Not really. I never get anything cool either. :)

It all depends if you want it or not!!

[[email protected]]

Started my tank about 4 years ago with 300lbs of Live Rock from Tampa
Bay Sal****er. Had a couple of mantis shrimp, two octopus, and various
destructive crabs. Despite my attempts was not able to catch the
mantis shrimps, and I guess they eventually just died over the next
year or so. I was able to catch both octopus, and remove the crabs.
In retrospect, I was concerned with the destructive critters at the
time, but it was fun in the beginning to discover new unexpected
creatures. The octopus was especially fun, since after I caught it, I
put it in a bright yellow plastic bowl, and it changed color perfectly
to match the color of the bowl. Took the octopus to my LFS to
give/sell to someone that wanted them.

[Ray Martini]

I'm not sure if I want critters or not, but a couple would keep the cycling
process interesting since I still have nothing living in the tank yet.


--
Happy Fishin' ...
Ray Martini

http://www.groove-alliance.com

"kryppy" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 09:36:51 -0500, "Ray Martini"
> > wrote:
>
>>I put 90lbs of uncured live rock in my 72 gallon bow front on Dec 21 and I
>>haven't seen a single living thing yet. Not a worm, or a shrimp, or a
>>crab,
>>NUTHIN!!
>>
>>Is that odd?
>
>
> Not really. I never get anything cool either. :)
>
> It all depends if you want it or not!!
>
>

[FornoW]

Can this method also be used if the rock is in the main tank during cycling?
or does it have to be in a quaranine tank?


"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
om...
> If you'll put the LR in a quarantine tank, putting it on a
> piece of PVC or an eggcrate rack, then you can put some
> meaty food in the corner of the tank. When the crab comes
> off the rock to get the food, you can either remove the rock
> or capture the critter. Repeat with all rock until done.
> You may need multiple containers to carry out this process,
> if you are working one rock at a time.
>
> Marc
>
>
> FornoW wrote:
>
> > Im planning on starting my first salt water tank and have been reading
up on
> > the use of live rock, and the pesky critters that can come with it
(i.e.,
> > Mantis Shrimp, etc.). How likely is it for such things to come with the
> > live rock? I will be buying my rock from a LFS, that has already been
> > cured. I have read about how much trouble it can be to eradict these
> > shrimps from tanks if they are found, but have not seen anything that
states
> > how often they are brought into tanks with live rock. Any input on
this
> > matter is greatly appreciated.. thanks
> >
> >
>
> --
> Personal Page:
> http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>

[FornoW]

Thanks for all the input. Settles some nervousness to know that this is not
as common a problem as some books/websites make it sound.



"FornoW" > wrote in message
news:9L0Gd.2871$qu2.2528@trndny08...
> Im planning on starting my first salt water tank and have been reading up
on
> the use of live rock, and the pesky critters that can come with it (i.e.,
> Mantis Shrimp, etc.). How likely is it for such things to come with the
> live rock? I will be buying my rock from a LFS, that has already been
> cured. I have read about how much trouble it can be to eradict these
> shrimps from tanks if they are found, but have not seen anything that
states
> how often they are brought into tanks with live rock. Any input on this
> matter is greatly appreciated.. thanks
>
>

[Marc Levenson]

I suppose so, but again you need to be able to observe and
capture items. I don't see why you couldn't do this with
cycling rock, as long as you can lure the animals out and
grab them.

Marc


FornoW wrote:
> Can this method also be used if the rock is in the main tank during cycling?
> or does it have to be in a quaranine tank?
>
>
> "Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
> om...
>
>>If you'll put the LR in a quarantine tank, putting it on a
>>piece of PVC or an eggcrate rack, then you can put some
>>meaty food in the corner of the tank. When the crab comes
>>off the rock to get the food, you can either remove the rock
>>or capture the critter. Repeat with all rock until done.
>>You may need multiple containers to carry out this process,
>>if you are working one rock at a time.
>>
>>Marc
>>
>>
>>FornoW wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Im planning on starting my first salt water tank and have been reading
>
> up on
>
>>>the use of live rock, and the pesky critters that can come with it
>
> (i.e.,
>
>>>Mantis Shrimp, etc.). How likely is it for such things to come with the
>>>live rock? I will be buying my rock from a LFS, that has already been
>>>cured. I have read about how much trouble it can be to eradict these
>>>shrimps from tanks if they are found, but have not seen anything that
>
> states
>
>>>how often they are brought into tanks with live rock. Any input on
>
> this
>
>>>matter is greatly appreciated.. thanks
>>>
>>>
>>
>>--
>>Personal Page:
>>http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
>>Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
>>Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>>
>
>
>

--
Personal Page:
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[FornoW]

Okay good. Since Im just starting out and this will be my first tank (
already purchased the tank, lighting, etc.), I do not currently have the
extra room/ money to buy another tank to set up for this purpose. I have
taken a look at the rock being sold at my LFS and it appears to be pretty
clean- though this is the view from outside of the tank, and not close up.
The store seems to be pretty good about being on top of things as well, so
hopefully they might have been keeping an eye on the rock for this purpose.
Thank you again for the help.


"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
. com...
> I suppose so, but again you need to be able to observe and
> capture items. I don't see why you couldn't do this with
> cycling rock, as long as you can lure the animals out and
> grab them.
>
> Marc
>
>
> FornoW wrote:
> > Can this method also be used if the rock is in the main tank during
cycling?
> > or does it have to be in a quaranine tank?
> >
> >
> > "Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
> > om...
> >
> >>If you'll put the LR in a quarantine tank, putting it on a
> >>piece of PVC or an eggcrate rack, then you can put some
> >>meaty food in the corner of the tank. When the crab comes
> >>off the rock to get the food, you can either remove the rock
> >>or capture the critter. Repeat with all rock until done.
> >>You may need multiple containers to carry out this process,
> >>if you are working one rock at a time.
> >>
> >>Marc
> >>
> >>
> >>FornoW wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Im planning on starting my first salt water tank and have been reading
> >
> > up on
> >
> >>>the use of live rock, and the pesky critters that can come with it
> >
> > (i.e.,
> >
> >>>Mantis Shrimp, etc.). How likely is it for such things to come with
the
> >>>live rock? I will be buying my rock from a LFS, that has already been
> >>>cured. I have read about how much trouble it can be to eradict these
> >>>shrimps from tanks if they are found, but have not seen anything that
> >
> > states
> >
> >>>how often they are brought into tanks with live rock. Any input on
> >
> > this
> >
> >>>matter is greatly appreciated.. thanks
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>--
> >>Personal Page:
> >>http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> >>Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> >>Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Personal Page:
> http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>

[PaulB]

IME, rock from an LFS doesn't have a whole lot of life on it. I doubt you
will have trouble. If you do, they are not impossible to catch, using the
appropriate trap.



"FornoW" > wrote in message
news:9L0Gd.2871$qu2.2528@trndny08...
> Im planning on starting my first salt water tank and have been reading up
> on
> the use of live rock, and the pesky critters that can come with it (i.e.,
> Mantis Shrimp, etc.). How likely is it for such things to come with the
> live rock? I will be buying my rock from a LFS, that has already been
> cured. I have read about how much trouble it can be to eradict these
> shrimps from tanks if they are found, but have not seen anything that
> states
> how often they are brought into tanks with live rock. Any input on this
> matter is greatly appreciated.. thanks
>
>

[selgado]

I used to think that too. That is until I found a LFS that stocks
really, really, nice live rock. It was also really, really, expensive
too though. This rock was unlike any I had seen in any LFS before. It
had tons of coralline algae on it. It had lots of bugs, feather
dusters, and lots of other creatures I couldn't ID. And get this - some
of the live rock actually had corals on it! Some had star polyps. Some
had mushrooms. Some had various polyps - sand polyps, zoos, and others.
One time I actually saw a piece with ricordia on it!

PaulB wrote:
> IME, rock from an LFS doesn't have a whole lot of life on it. I doubt you
> will have trouble. If you do, they are not impossible to catch, using the
> appropriate trap.
>
>
>
> "FornoW" > wrote in message
> news:9L0Gd.2871$qu2.2528@trndny08...
>
>>Im planning on starting my first salt water tank and have been reading up
>>on
>>the use of live rock, and the pesky critters that can come with it (i.e.,
>>Mantis Shrimp, etc.). How likely is it for such things to come with the
>>live rock? I will be buying my rock from a LFS, that has already been
>>cured. I have read about how much trouble it can be to eradict these
>>shrimps from tanks if they are found, but have not seen anything that
>>states
>>how often they are brought into tanks with live rock. Any input on this
>>matter is greatly appreciated.. thanks
>>
>>
>
>
>