Marc Levenson
January 15th 04, 08:58 AM
I got this cute little crab. If you've never seen them before, they are usually
white with rust-colored spots on the shell and arms. They hang out near
anemones, even getting in the tentacles, and extend fan-like appendages that
catch planktonic particles that the crab eats. Amazingly delicate fascinating
creatures. Here are two pictures of it before it was added to the tank:
http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/0104/porcelain_crab_011404.jpg
http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/0104/porcelain_crab.jpg
My goal was to add it to my 29g, so it could live near by BTA and be safe. I've
got two clownfish in there already and wondered if they'd put up with one more
anemone dweller.
After careful acclimation, I pulled the bag out of the tank, drained all the
water out (as you never know what is in the LFS water), and placed the crab in a
small shallow bowl. I took this bowl and lowered it into the tank, trying to
release the crab onto the rock next to the tentacles. I have a Coral Banded
Shrimp that can be quite the carnivore, and wanted to make sure this little guy
was safe and sound.
***To my horror**** the porcelain crab quickly jumped right into the BTA's
tentacles, which quickly retracted to enjoy this new morsel of food. The crab,
on the other hand, was absolutely not ready to be eaten and immediately clamped
down with both pinchers on two tentacles, arms and legs fully outstretched.
The crab was upside down, it's abdomen facing me, tentacles all around it. I
tried to brush them away to help free my latest pet, but the anemone was very
sticky and refused to give up its hold. I tried to nudge the crab out, hoping
to set it free, but nothing worked. Sadly, I gave up. The anemone closed up
more and more, and it was just a matter of tiime. :(
5 minutes later, I looked again, and the crab was visible again, still
stubbornly holding out, all limbs spread eagle and determined to live. The
female Percula was trying to get this thing out of her home, but she wasn't
making much progress.
Ten minutes passed...
I looked again, and the anemone was fully opened. The clowns were swimming
around as normal, and the crab was nowhere to be seen. I doubted the anemone
could devour something so stubborn, so I looked very closely at the rockwork
nearby, and in a dark crevice, there was the porcelain crab happy and extending
those filter fans to eat. Right beneath it was one of my Emerald Crabs, totally
ignoring it.
With relief and joy, I watched my new reefling for a few more minutes. It is
amazing what our oceans hold, and what these animals can do to survive. Several
hours later, while peeking with a flashlight, I found both emerald crabs beneath
the tentacles just hanging out, and the porcelain crab was around the corner
nestled between the LR and the substrate. I look forward to seeing what happens
in the near future.
Marc
--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
white with rust-colored spots on the shell and arms. They hang out near
anemones, even getting in the tentacles, and extend fan-like appendages that
catch planktonic particles that the crab eats. Amazingly delicate fascinating
creatures. Here are two pictures of it before it was added to the tank:
http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/0104/porcelain_crab_011404.jpg
http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/0104/porcelain_crab.jpg
My goal was to add it to my 29g, so it could live near by BTA and be safe. I've
got two clownfish in there already and wondered if they'd put up with one more
anemone dweller.
After careful acclimation, I pulled the bag out of the tank, drained all the
water out (as you never know what is in the LFS water), and placed the crab in a
small shallow bowl. I took this bowl and lowered it into the tank, trying to
release the crab onto the rock next to the tentacles. I have a Coral Banded
Shrimp that can be quite the carnivore, and wanted to make sure this little guy
was safe and sound.
***To my horror**** the porcelain crab quickly jumped right into the BTA's
tentacles, which quickly retracted to enjoy this new morsel of food. The crab,
on the other hand, was absolutely not ready to be eaten and immediately clamped
down with both pinchers on two tentacles, arms and legs fully outstretched.
The crab was upside down, it's abdomen facing me, tentacles all around it. I
tried to brush them away to help free my latest pet, but the anemone was very
sticky and refused to give up its hold. I tried to nudge the crab out, hoping
to set it free, but nothing worked. Sadly, I gave up. The anemone closed up
more and more, and it was just a matter of tiime. :(
5 minutes later, I looked again, and the crab was visible again, still
stubbornly holding out, all limbs spread eagle and determined to live. The
female Percula was trying to get this thing out of her home, but she wasn't
making much progress.
Ten minutes passed...
I looked again, and the anemone was fully opened. The clowns were swimming
around as normal, and the crab was nowhere to be seen. I doubted the anemone
could devour something so stubborn, so I looked very closely at the rockwork
nearby, and in a dark crevice, there was the porcelain crab happy and extending
those filter fans to eat. Right beneath it was one of my Emerald Crabs, totally
ignoring it.
With relief and joy, I watched my new reefling for a few more minutes. It is
amazing what our oceans hold, and what these animals can do to survive. Several
hours later, while peeking with a flashlight, I found both emerald crabs beneath
the tentacles just hanging out, and the porcelain crab was around the corner
nestled between the LR and the substrate. I look forward to seeing what happens
in the near future.
Marc
--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com