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FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Compatibility
Related Articles: Marine Invertebrates, Marine
Invertebrate identification, Marine Invertebrate
Selection, Marine Invertebrate Systems, Marine
Invertebrate Disease, Marine Invertebrate
Reproduction, Quarantine
of Corals and Invertebrates, Feeding
Reef Invertebrates, Lighting Marine Invertebrates,
Water
Flow, How Much is Enough,
Related FAQs: Marine Invert.s 1, Marine
Invert.s 2, Marine Invert.s 3, Marine Plankton,
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Trigger/Angel-"safe" inverts
10/7/08
Hi, crew,
I always come across questions such as "which
triggers are reef-safe?" or "which angels are reef-safe?".
<Neither really;
while some species may work successfully in some tanks, both families evolved to
eat invertebrates, so at least some of the things in your tank are at risk of
becoming food.>
I'll have an 8 foot x 2.5 x 2.5 foot tank, and am really
interested in a Clown Trigger and an Emperor Angel. If I can't have both in this
375g tank, then at least the Imperator.
<Clown Triggers are comparatively
aggressive fish, and I don't really recommend any triggerfish outside one or two
genera (Sufflamen, Melichthys) being kept in community settings. Does of course
depend on the specimen. Emperor Angels can of course be kept in multi-species
tanks, with the proviso that (as ever with Pomacanthidae) that they're "top
dog".>
So, my question is, what inverts/corals are most probably trigger or
angel-safe?
<Angels specifically go for sponges, so that's the main group to
avoid; that isn't to say they won't have a go at other types of invertebrate,
but provided they are well fed, and the tank is sufficiently large, any damage
tends to be minimal. With triggers, shrimps, molluscs, annelids and echinoderms
are all easy meat. Some triggers ignore cnidarians (corals, anemones, etc.) but
many don't, and the Clown Trigger is one that will damage, likely consume, such
animals given the chance.>
The FOWLR does not appeal very much to me, and if
I can't have inverts, then it will be a pure reef tank with reef-safe fishes
only.
<Would HIGHLY recommend that approach, perhaps building up experience
of this aspect of the hobby generally before thinking about either a trigger or
the Emperor angelfish. Do remember the Emperor angelfish has a poor survival
record, in part because less experienced hobbyists are attracted to this animal
without fully comprehending the demands it places on its keeper. There are many
easier to maintain angels out there.>
However, if I can have an Imperator as
my "showcase" animal, and still have a reef, then that would be great.
<Suspect it would be worth doing a bit more reading before anything else...>
Thanks for any recommendations!
<Cheers, Neale.>
Possible sea cucumber problem
6/18/08
Hello,
<Hello, Jack!>
I've searched and searched, and cannot find any specific answers, so out
of desperation I'm asking my very first question!
<Sounds good. Thanks for searching!>
In one of my labs, I've got a 4 month old, 75gal marine tank (w ~20gal
sump) which...until this morning...held only a cleaning crew (snails,
hermits, and two peppermint shrimp), live sand, live rock and gobs of
green algae. I just received two "Marine Invertebrate" sets and some
jellyfish from Ward's Scientific,
<mm...yes>
and within an hour of introducing the various species (I know, too many
at a time, but it's the only tank we've got...I still need to get a
quarantine tank going) BOTH peppermint shrimp were in the open, on their
sides, twitching. They died about 2 hours later.
http://wardsci.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_IG0013628_A_name_E_Invertebrate+Living+Specimen+Set+1
http://wardsci.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_IG0013629_A_name_E_Invertebrate+Living+Specimen+Set+2
http://wardsci.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_IG0013404_A_name_E_Jellyfish+Living+Specimen
I took great care to minimize introducing very much foreign water to the
tank.
<Okay. How did you acclimate them? Did you slowly transition the water
in the bags to system water, or did you just release these organisms
into the tank? Simply dropping them in would most likely kill them
promptly.>
Especially, from the sea cucumber bag! I called Ward's, and they could
only tell me that the genus/species was "Cucumaria".
<Generic...>
Nevertheless, I suspect the Cuke got freaked out in transit and spewed
some toxins upon arrival.
<Much more a predation response than environmental>
Are there any other possible explanations, given the long list of newly
introduced critters (check the ward's links, above)?
<Be advised that the animals sold by Ward are not compatible with each
other, and are rarely properly identified by the company. In my
experience with these sets the instructions for care are poor, and the
animals sick or doomed upon arrival. The jellyfish, for example, are
completely unsuitable tankmates for the other offered specimens, and
will require special aquaria to house them. Most of the echinoderms sold
by Ward simply cannot be kept without intensive feeding and water change
regimens- not what a zoology or invert. phys. class needs!>
I've done a partial water change. What other precautions should I take?
<I would test your water parameters and see if something is seriously
out of whack, and review acclimation procedures. Perhaps consider paying
a bit more for some select, research specimens from another source.>
I promise, to never introduce so many animals to the tank, ever again.
Thank you!
<No problem.>
-Jack
<Benjamin>
Re: Possible sea cucumber problem
- 6/18/08
Thanks for the prompt response. I've had a few hours to further
research the situation, here's an update:
1. Acclimation occurred over the entire morning yesterday:
a) each bag was floated for 1 hour; followed by b) adding tank water to
the bag (1 pt tank : 2 pts bag volume) and another hour of floating;
followed by c) emptying 1/2 of that water (into sink), topping off w
tank water, and floating for another 1/2 hour; and finally d) adding
critter to tank while minimizing the introduction of baggy water. Snails
and hermit crab were rinsed under tapwater too.
<If anything, this might have been too long, but since you had them
floating temperature shouldn't have been a problem. I doubt acclimation
was the problem.>
2. Nobody else was dead this morning. Yay!
<Glad to hear it!>
3. I no longer attribute the shrimps' demise to the cucumber. A more
likely suspect would be the jelly's.
They'd shed lots of slime (nematocysts?) in transit, and 2 out of 3 had
actually LOST THEIR MANUBRIA...incidentally, the injured jelly's and
detached mouth-pieces are still pulsating on the tank's floor. I now
hypothesize that the shrimp were knocked off by free-floating
nematocysts.
<Very possible! Cnidarians can shed a lot of stinging cells under
stress.>
4. I consider the Cassiopeia's doomed if they remain in this tank, and a
hazard to whatever strolls past them.
<Both correct.>
I'm setting up a temporary 10gal w/ steep live sand "banks" on either
end, and setting up a weak submersible filter on the bottom to create a
pseudo-circular, vertical current.
I've got some high-power full-spectrum fluorescents (used on lizards) I
can put on a timer, too. Meanwhile, I'll see if anyone around here wants
em (LFS, Bio dept, aquarium...) and, worse case scenario, I'll preserve
them for our teaching collection (I waste NOTHING around here!).
<Sounds like a good plan.>
5. More research has me concerned about the Featherdusters and predation
from: red and blue-legged hermits, brittle star, and the urchin. Real,
or paranoia? Time will tell...
<There is certainly risk, but they should be fine. Hermit crabs will eat
just about anything, given the chance, but as long as there is easier
food to be found, they probably won't be going after something the have
to catch.>
The determining factors in choosing Ward's over the LFS:
very good prices (surprising, actually),
guaranteed delivery, a 20% off coupon and an established tax-exempt
account.
<Understood.>
The lack of documentation was acceptable, since I'm quite capable of
researching various problems,
<Clearly. You definitely did your homework before you wrote this reply!>
but I'm ashamed to have assumed that their sets were compatible...and to
have created this Darwinian situation.
<Selective pressure notwithstanding, compatibility and mortality are
perpetual problems in aquaria. I wouldn't lose too much sleep over your
assumption- it is reasonable to expect that sets of specimens from a
reputable supply company would be compatible...that said, often time
accuracy is sacrificed to Mammon in this hobby.>
I should have known better, given that they included Aiptasia anemones
in one set!
<Probably helps keep the price down...and, given they aren't overfed
they can be fascinating. You might be interested in information re
aiptasia culturing/filtering...use of aiptasia to clean water.>
Best regards,
-Jack
<The same! Benjamin>
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Parasitic echinoderms, actually other select phyla 2/22/07
Dear Mr. Fenner,
<Michael>
I just finished your article titled "Spiny-skinned animals, phylum
Echinodermata"**. I doubt your statement that echinoderms "...are the only
phylum with no known parasitic members, though they are often hosts themselves."
<Mmm, this stmt. should be modified, pre-affixed with "Of the common phyla
seen/used in ornamental aquariums,...">
I do not know of any parasitic species in a number of phyla, including
ctenophores, Sipunculids, echiurans and chaetognaths.
<Amongst how many current animal phyla?>
Do you know of any references regarding parasitic species in these phyla?
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Baltzley
--
Michael Baltzley, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Division of Biological Sciences
University of California, San Diego
<Tried the quick look/see on the Net re comb jellies "as" parasites... dismal...
Am a local San Diegan, and even UC alumnus... and do make it down to the S.I.O.
library (one of 19 I believe on the SD campuses)... and will take your question
with me when I have opportunity to use their Zool. Abstracts, BIOSIS, et al.
computer search bibliographic tools. Cheers, Bob Fenner>
Re: parasitic echinoderms 2/24/07
Dear Mr. Fenner,
<<Just Bob, Michael>>
Thanks for your response.
<Amongst how many current animal phyla?>
There are currently about 35 animal phyla. I say 'about' because invertebrate
taxonomy is always being revised and modified. Wikipedia has a reference page
listing the current animal phyla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylum). I
would not assume that the Wikipedia entry is all-inclusive or completely
accurate, but it is a good summary page.
<<Ahh, thank you for this>>
<Tried the quick look/see on the Net re comb jellies "as" parasites... dismal...
Am a local San Diegan, and even UC alumnus... and do make it down to the S.I.O.
library (one of 19 I believe on the SD campuses)... and will take your question
with me when I have opportunity to use their Zool. Abstracts, BIOSIS, et al.
computer search bibliographic tools. Cheers, Bob Fenner>
I did a quick search for parasitic members in the phyla I mentioned
previously--echiurans, Sipunculids, ctenophores and chaetognaths--in ISI
Science Citation Index and didn't find anything. I would be very interested if
your search turns up anything.
Thanks,
Mike
<I "know" of no parasitic members in these other phyla as well... as previously
stated, I should have prefaced the bold statement with "amongst" the few phyla
common to aquarists... But will do a bit of searching and write back to you. Bob
Fenner>
Starfish and Hydroids? Blue Linckia (Linckia laevigata) Better Left
in the Sea. 2/7/07
Hi WWM!
<Hi Travis! Mich here!>
I was thinking about adding a blue Linckia star to my 80 gallon reef
tank, but after researching some of the LR hitchhikers I think I have,
I'm not sure if it's a good idea....
<No. It is not a good idea, but not for the reason you suggest. The
natural and necessary diet of these beautiful Blue linckia (Linckia
laevigata) is unknown. Though the will accept meaty foods, they seldom
live more than 18 months in captivity and appear to die from
malnutrition. If you purchase this creature you are likely dooming it
to an early death.>
What I thought was an abundance of mini-dusters of my LR may actually be
an infestation of "colonial hydroids" in stationary/tube form!
<Could be.>
Would a Linckia star (or any starfish for that matter) be
damaged/irritated by crawling over rocks covered in hydroids?
<Possibly, but not really this issue here my friend.>
Thank you,
<Welcome! -Mich>
Travis.
Attached is a pic--I don't have a good macro/close-up setting on my
digicam--but you can sort of see the hydroids on the LR on each side of
the mushrooms.
<Blurry! but I see.> |
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Addition of New Invertebrates
Hello,
<Hi there>
I have a relatively new (approx 6 mo.s old) 120 gallon marine aquarium. I have a few fish (2 fire fish, 2 Percula clowns, and a royal
Gramma, ), 3
anemones (2 long tentacle and a magnifica anemone), a banded coral shrimp, a fan worm, several small blue legged hermit crabs, and a cleaner shrimp.
(Sorry for the invoice list) I really enjoy the inverts as much as the fish. I plan on adding some new fish over the next few months but I really want to
add more inverts. My question is what other inverts can I add before I run into incompatibility issues?
<The list is long>
I would like to add a blood shrimp and maybe a arrow crab.
<The Lysmata should be fine, I would not place an Arrow Crab here>
Is there a problem with so many different types of inverts in the tank?
<Possibly, yes>
The new fish I would like to add is a yellow tang and/or a Naso Tang. Do you have any tricks on getting them to eat? I know they are veggies
and I have been told they like seaweed, but the real trick is getting them to start to eat. Any suggestions?
<This is posted on WWM. Bob Fenner> | |
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