Your pick for some really intresting inverts.

[ac7av]

Hi Leslie, I would like to know what your pick is for some really interesting inverts to put in my tank. I’m not looking for the “clean up crew” type of stuff, but the strange, unusual, or just interesting and colorful invertebrates what would be good additions to my tank. I have a 210 gallon with lots of rock work, soft corals, RLT anemone, and no fish that should be any problem with anything over ½ inch in length. I want that kind of stuff that would just capture peoples imaginations and curiosity. I need the creepy crawler thing going on, you known what I mean?
:spider::spider::spider::spider:

 

[LeslieH]

What I would like to see in a tank.....

Giant eunicids

Giant deep sea isopods

Giant sea spiders

:biggrin1:

 

[LeslieH]

Okay, a little more seriously this time.

I think it's a trade off between reef safe & creepy crawlie/interesting. Crabs are fascinating in color & shape but many of them are not to be trusted around soft corals. There are some very colorful sea cucumbers but some of them are toxic & can nuke a tank if stressed. Some nudibranchs are stunning to look at but the most colorful large one eat either sponges or cnidarians. Big snails - like trumpets & conches - are carnivores. Ovulid snails are spectacular but tend to be very specific feeders on soft corals which they match so well in color that they're camouflaged. Fire urchins are gorgeous but the sting is venomous. The big Chloeia fireworms - extremely beautiful - are carnivores are scavengers, so are the big eunicids. Then there's the issue of proper feeding. If you get some crinoids for example the survival rate is low. A few people like Bongo Shrimp have managed to keep them alive for several years but that's not so common. The diet requirements aren't known for some of the more bizarre & colorful sea stars. Another problem is the comparatively limited stock of inverts kept by LFS.

Let's turn this question over to RF members -- What reef safe creepy crawlies have you kept successfully & that you would recommend to Erik?

 

[ac7av]

Now that’s what I’m talking about. :bowl::bowl:

What I would like to see in a tank.....

Giant eunicids

Giant deep sea isopods

Giant sea spiders

:biggrin1:

 

[Scooterman]

That is some awesome looking critters, you never know what your going to get sometimes when they grow up LOL

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I am very fond of my Harlequin shrimp pair. They look like a creature from Mars (if Mars had creatures :>)
They keep tank fairly clean of Astarina stars, and have taught them to eat frozen Pacific sun star legs.