CrustSelFAQs

FAQs about Crustacean Selection

Consider well the other livestock in your system

Shrimp and crab compatibility 5/29/17
Hey guys!
<Carter>
I have a 45 gallon mixed (lps/softies) with about 45 pounds of rock. It currently houses various snails, hermits, a fire shrimp (Lysmata debelius), a blue porcelain crab (Petrolisthes spp) and several fish. Three of those fish are potential "shrimpivores and crabivores"...a redlined wrasse, a carpenters fairy wrasse, and an orchid Dottyback. Is there an appropriate species of shrimp that you would chance adding to the tank, and would it be appropriate to add an emerald crab or two?
<Mmm; well; given plenty of hidey holes (for molting, soft-bodied periods); most any of the larger shrimps would/could go here. I'd have you read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/HighInvertInd.htm
scroll down to the "Shrimp" tray; read at the family level. I'd avoid Stenopids and am not a fan of Mithraculus... as you'll see by reading re them on this same page>
Thanks so much for always being there!
Carter
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Crustacean Dilemma 7/25/06 Hi! < Howdy! > I've heard that a good rule of thumb for stocking levels for marine aquariums is to have no more than 1/2 an inch of fish per gallon. < That is truly too broad of a generalization to adhere to. What if the fish is also two inches wide? > What I'm wondering is, does this also apply to crustaceans and other invertebrates, or just fish. < Yes, crustaceans and invertebrates poop too! But, I still maintain that the appropriate number of inverts and fish is more related to the ability of the biological filtration to handle the load. > For example, I am planning to set up a 50-gallon reef aquarium and if this rule applies to crustaceans, does that mean I can only have 12 inches of fish and 12 inches of invertebrates? < What are the fish you are considering? That may have great bearing on what others can be kept, as well as how many. > Thanks!
< You are welcome! RichardB >

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