Macro Algae & Corals 25 Gallon Peninsula

[OldRed1]

Are you sure that the worm had the appendages at the mouth that distinguish it from common bristleworms?

No question in my mind. It is definitively a Eunice worm. There is only one rock in my tank that did not come from TBS, a zoa frag rock. I dipped that rock for 15 minutes in CoralRx, but I suppose it’s possible the worm survived the dip and moved into another rock.

Typing this out, I’m betting that’s what happened. Because the Eunice worm I found does not appear to be native to the Gulf. At least, not based on any of the data I have found so far.

 

[OldRed1]

Box crab doing its best impression of Sally the Shellback.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Have your clowns eaten yet? And what camera/phone are you using for photos, you'd are really clear and focused!

 

[OldRed1]

Have your clowns eaten yet? And what camera/phone are you using for photos, you'd are really clear and focused!

I use an iPhone 12! Wish I had the 14 with more advanced macro photo options, though.

And yeah, the clowns continue to pick at food here and there. Still waiting for the flakes to come from Amazon.

 

[OldRed1]

Holy moly! Our box crab just molted, and just look at the size difference!

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Found a new friend in the tank! I think this is the crab that has been leaving molts around. I’m almost certain it’s some kind of gorilla crab, so at some point it will probably need to come out.

For now, I am grateful for the cleaning service it provides. I watched it for about 15 minutes this morning; the crab scampered around the underside of its rock, picking up mysis shrimp that floated under.

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This crab reminded me of a post I saw recently (see the link below) - it seems to be a "Hairy Crab" (Pilumnus sp.), possibly a Spineback Hairy Crab (Pilumnus sayi), it's basically a "gorilla crab" from a hobbyist perspective, but that term actually refers to crabs from the stone crab family Xanthidae, while this guy (if my ID is accurate) would be from the family Pilumnidae. As you've guessed, it's not reef safe. It is a neat find though!

Hitchhiker's Guide to Survival

After a 20 year hiatus, I set up a reef tank about two years ago. Excited by the new things available when I set the tank up, I just couldn't resist live rock. I bought 40 pounds of it from Florida and it's been an interesting journey to say the least. Now two years later that original tank has...

www.reef2reef.com

Here's another similar one:

Large Hairy Crab

Now mind you this guy isn't safe for a reef, but if anyone wants to set up a small tank for him, it may be cool. If you want him, just let me know. You can have him.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[OldRed1]

This crab reminded me of a post I saw recently (see the link below) - it seems to be a "Hairy Crab" (Pilumnus sp.), possibly a Spineback Hairy Crab (Pilumnus sayi), it's basically a "gorilla crab" from a hobbyist perspective, but that term actually refers to crabs from the stone crab family Xanthidae, while this guy (if my ID is accurate) would be from the family Pilumnidae. As you've guessed, it's not reef safe. It is a neat find though!

Hitchhiker's Guide to Survival

After a 20 year hiatus, I set up a reef tank about two years ago. Excited by the new things available when I set the tank up, I just couldn't resist live rock. I bought 40 pounds of it from Florida and it's been an interesting journey to say the least. Now two years later that original tank has...

www.reef2reef.com

Here's another similar one:

Large Hairy Crab

Now mind you this guy isn't safe for a reef, but if anyone wants to set up a small tank for him, it may be cool. If you want him, just let me know. You can have him.

www.reef2reef.com

You always come through with the best info. Thank you! This is so great.

Just have to figure out what we’re going to do with Harry the Hairy Crab, but that’s a problem for another day. Maybe a trap?

 

[OldRed1]

Have your clowns eaten yet? And what camera/phone are you using for photos, you'd are really clear and focused!

Another update…So, I think one reason why my Clowns have not been as interested in frozen foods is that they seem to be snacking throughout the day on the copepods on the glass. This would also explain why there are so many fewer pods now than previously, before I added fish to the tank.

 

[OldRed1]

You can really see why it’s important to burry your rocks down to the bottom of your tank if you’re going to have a pistol shrimp. Just imagine if you had rocks on top of the sand, only for the shrimp to dig a tunnel like this underneath them! Your rocks would topple over in a second!

 

[OldRed1]

Are you sure that the worm had the appendages at the mouth that distinguish it from common bristleworms?

Distinct head of the Eunice worm in my tank.

Honestly, this worm is really cool. Will be happy if it sticks around and continues eating detritus!

 

[OldRed1]

This Gorgonian Candelabra is just loving life in this tank. Can’t wait till it grows in!

 

[OldRed1]

Not sure the Goober loves the East African Cerith snail hanging out in his door way. Classic shrimp photo bomb to boot.

 

[OldRed1]

The Rock-boring Urchin has definitely gotten more adventurous. Glad to see it exploring other rocks, gobbling up the algae as it goes.

 

[Hermie]

Distinct head of the Eunice worm in my tank.

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Honestly, this worm is really cool. Will be happy if it sticks around and continues eating detritus!

omg dude haha giving me nightmares

I hate bristleworms now because they've overpopulated my tank; (its about 4 years old). If I saw a eunice worm I'd freak. Top of the Reefkeeper Most "Wanted" List.

 

[OldRed1]

omg dude haha giving me nightmares

I hate bristleworms now because they've overpopulated my tank; (its about 4 years old). If I saw a eunice worm I'd freak. Top of the Reefkeeper Most "Wanted" List.

To each their own! I’m just a fan of all the life in the tank. Aside from whelks, there aren’t too many critters I willingly remove. Eunice worms are definitely bottom of the charts as far as looks go, though!

 

[JoJosReef]

Haha, they really are nightmare creatures! I think most people over-react to bad hitchhikers. I'd take them any day over bad GHA/dinos/cyano(which I haven't suffered yet). Just get the gorilla crabs out and into a sump when you can and enjoy all of the other creepy crawlies cleaning your tank!

 

[JoJosReef]

Sorry, p.s., of cirolanid isopods would be a horrible pest. That's the one I'd be worried about.

 

[Hermie]

I can't enjoy bristleworms when they are eating my corals

 

[OldRed1]

Long polyp leather is finally starting to open up. Getting this coral happy has been a pain, but it looks like we’re on the right track!

My takeaway lesson from this coral is that I have to be patient and flexible. I had a very specific place in mind where I wanted this coral to be placed. Unfortunately, that spot is currently occupied by my cleaner shrimps as a perch. So when I put the coral there, the shrimp used it as a place to stand.

So, I’ve admitted defeat and found a new place for the coral to grow in. In the end, everyone’s happy!

 

[OldRed1]

The size of these East African Cerith snails cannot be overstated haha. These snails are chonkers.