Advice/Tips on caring for Porcelain Crab

[Glasswalker]

Hey guys, so I did some research into some inverts I wanted in my tank. Just getting the tank started. I added the typical snails/hermits. And I decided after some reading that I wanted a Porcelain.

I read the Porcelain was both a filter feeder, and a scavenger. So I figured I could feed general "Marine Pellets" which contain meaty stuff and some veg, and occasionally some frozen brine shrimp, and that would keep him happy plus whatever was in the water.

After putting him in the tank I did some research on the specific species I got (knowing there are many in that family, it was only marked as "Porcelain crab" in the store). Turns out from what I can tell, it's a Porcelain Anemone Crab...

Pic (he's being camera shy in this one):


Anyway, can anyone confirm my identification first off...

And secondly, I read since he likes an anemone he might not be happy in the tank... I noticed when I first put him in after acclimation that he appeared to "lick the glass" a bunch (there are many pods on the glass where he was doing this). So figured he was eating those...

Then he crawled up and parked himself in a patch of GSP... He didn't filter feed at all (waving his feeding appendages around). I put in some small sinking pellets near him, hoping he'd eat one of those, he didn't touch it. (the hermits ate it up though). And the next day I tried some frozen brine, he didn't touch that either... (again hermits went after the debris once it settled).

So I decided to try buying some bottled "Marine Snow" (Phyto/Zooplankton). Dosed some of this in, according to dosing recommendations of 5ml per 20G. (I have 80G system, so 4 caps full).

He almost immediately began filter feeding...

Does this indicate there isn't enough in the water column for him to eat? And if so, any tips on how I can care for him?

He's seemed fine last couple days (been in there 3 days) we've continued to dose the marine snow daily so far...

We were originally going to wait to get an Anemone, for our clowns (likely an RBTA) because we felt they were more advanced to care for. Also I read the crab will fight with the clowns...

Right now he seems to be primarily hiding in the rock work most of the time. Comes out at night, and occasionally I assume to feed or something. (but goes right back to hiding after)

After some more digging I thought I found an option, possibly a Mini Carpet Anemone, apparently the crab will host in it, and the clowns won't care about it. And it's small, and easy to care for (from what I've heard). Any feedback on that? Will the Anemone help this little guy be more happy?

Any other tips/suggestions on keeping him happy/healthy?

Also how often/much should I be feeding him?

Thanks in advance for any/all suggestions/advice!

 

[Naiad]

They feel a lot more comfortable with a nem. They will host rock nems as well which don't have the sting carpets do. He is likely not feeding much because he feels exposed. They will take food from the nem.

 

[Naiad]

Oh and yes he is an anemone crab [emoji7]

 

[Cment]

Yep thats an anemone type and will host any nem, I had one in a bubble tip and another in a mini maxi. They mainly filter feed but would always eat mysis when I would squirt some on the nems. They're pretty easy to care for...

 

[Glasswalker]

Hey! Thanks for both of your confirmations, and suggestions. I will look into the rock/flower nems, see if they might be a good fit.

In the meantime will keep doing what I'm doing. Today he seems to have found a new home in a small cave about 1.5" in diameter. It's nice because we can easily see him in there when he's hiding. And tonight when I added brine, he definitely started feeding.... so that's good

Any tips on how to introduce him to the nem? Or will he just find it on his own?

Thanks again!

 

[Cment]

Hey! Thanks for both of your confirmations, and suggestions. I will look into the rock/flower nems, see if they might be a good fit.

In the meantime will keep doing what I'm doing. Today he seems to have found a new home in a small cave about 1.5" in diameter. It's nice because we can easily see him in there when he's hiding. And tonight when I added brine, he definitely started feeding.... so that's good

Any tips on how to introduce him to the nem? Or will he just find it on his own?

Thanks again!

he will find it on his own, they have an odd instinct and know when one is there...

 

[Glasswalker]

Awesome, thanks for your suggestions!

I think we'll get a Rock/Flower nem for him, once we can find a nice one. Either way he seems to be doing well. Has been eating well, and is adventuring around the tank. But mostly at night (being very nocturnal, hiding in rock crevasses during the day).

Here's another pic of him in one of his "Hidey Holes"

 

[Debi]

Mine went right for my Rock Flower, that's all I have in that tank. He/she went from one to another and now seems content where he is. I also have a Sexy Shrimp who did the same thing. When feeding the Nems I feed the crab and he loves it. I feed Reef Frenzy.

 

[RobBaglieri]

Ive had mine for two years. They live in my green star polyps. I spot feed them marine snow, or oyster eggs once a week. Ive also been able to spot feet them flakes using tweezers.