mpg123sd mpg123sd
  • Just popping in
  • Just popping in
  • Joined: 3/10/2010 14:01
  • From West Sussex
  • Group: Registered Users Basic Membership
  • Posts: 18
  • Posted on: 8/12/2010 20:43
Lobster and crabs #1
Hello,

One of my local aquarium stores has Tropical Lobsters and crabs in stock.

I was wondering what these are like in a community tank.
The staff at the shop say they are fine as long as you keep them

Thanks for any advice

125l tropical tank, Fluval U3 filter, Gouramis, neons, cherry barbs, jumbo mollys, platys, kissing gouramis, clown loach, gold loach.
mpg123sd mpg123sd
  • Just popping in
  • Just popping in
  • Joined: 3/10/2010 14:01
  • From West Sussex
  • Group: Registered Users Basic Membership
  • Posts: 18
  • Posted on: 8/12/2010 20:53
Re: Lobster and crabs #2
Missed out a bit.
The shop staff say they are ok and wont attack fish as long as you keep them fed
Violet Violet
  • Tropical Adviser
  • Tropical  Adviser
  • Joined: 22/11/2008 17:42
  • From West Yorkshire
  • Group: Registered Users Caresheets FK Supporter Advisers Deep End
  • Posts: 7186
  • Posted on: 8/12/2010 21:24
Re: Lobster and crabs #3
Think they may be telling you a porky there really

Known to attack fish as they sleep and FK does not recommend them as community dwellers I'm afraid. Species tank only for these critters, lovely as they are.

See here:
http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/ ... sheet.php?caresheetID=133

I've always quite fancied a blue lobster myself, but that would mean tank number 3 and we have limited space now
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mpg123sd mpg123sd
  • Just popping in
  • Just popping in
  • Joined: 3/10/2010 14:01
  • From West Sussex
  • Group: Registered Users Basic Membership
  • Posts: 18
  • Posted on: 8/12/2010 21:41
Re: Lobster and crabs #4
How about shrimps?
Violet Violet
  • Tropical Adviser
  • Tropical  Adviser
  • Joined: 22/11/2008 17:42
  • From West Yorkshire
  • Group: Registered Users Caresheets FK Supporter Advisers Deep End
  • Posts: 7186
  • Posted on: 8/12/2010 22:00
Re: Lobster and crabs #5
To be honest, I wouldn't add any further bioload to the 125 litre tank You are quite overstocked already really given the fish listed in your profile. Is this up to date?

Clown loach in particular are shoaling so 6 needed min and require a tank of 500 litres or more and soft water.

Some of the fish are not really suited either - sorry Some of these fish need soft, acidic water and some are hardwater more alkaline species - as are the shrimp, to stop their shells dissolving.

Can you post your pH, GH and KH readings at all?

Depending on your water parameters, it may be possible to rehouse/rehome some of the unsuitable fish, giving up more room for more suited stock and the additions you favour
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