Is my CUC OK? I'm not sure...

TammyLiz · 06/14/2007, 04:25 PM

I added the first stock to my tank today and I'm worried about them. I don't know how I should expect them to act. I got a scarlet hermit, an astrea snail, and an emerald crab.

The hermit crab is still sitting right where I put him, which is a high current area on the sand bed in the front of the tank. He spent some time cleaning his appendages and now he's just sitting there looking around. The snail went to the surface right away. It is currently at the surface on the glass. Earlier it was above the surface of the water on the glass. The emerald crab immediately hid and I can just barely see him between pieces of live rock, in a different spot but hiding nonetheless.

Is this to be expected or should I be worried?

In case more information is needed:

I acclimated them by floating them for about half an hour (probably too long, I know), then putting them in a bucket of half store water and half my tank water for 15 minutes before adding them to the tank.

The tank is well established, having been set up for two years, but I just bought it from someone who had lost interest, so it was just moved Monday. There was nothing in it but polyps, mushrooms and tube worms, basically. I had the guy at the LFS check params and they were all 0 but salinity was 1.022 so I need to get that up a little but he said the animals would be fine.

jba6511 · 06/14/2007, 04:54 PM

the snail should be fine but the others I am not to sure about. Next time try and acclimate your livestock by drip acclimating. Someone else can tell you more about the emerald and hermit I am sure.

TammyLiz · 06/14/2007, 06:50 PM

I guess acclimating is more important in saltwater than in fresh.

I already knew that but I figured these guys are hardy...

Would raising the SG a teeny bit by adding some water with high SG help them at all if they're in osmotic shock? Or make it worse?

Nothing has changed yet as far as their behavior.

petoonia · 06/14/2007, 07:32 PM

Just give it some time. It would probably be best to shut the light out. What's the tanks temp at?

TammyLiz · 06/14/2007, 08:00 PM

Thanks. I'll turn them off.

It appears they will probably be ok. I guess like you said they just needed some time because both crabs are foraging now. When they settle in they're going to think they're living in heaven because there is a LOT of algae in it.

They gave me a scare, though. Man, that emerald crab is neat.

EDIT: The temp is 80 F

petoonia · 06/14/2007, 09:49 PM

I put an emerald crab in my tank a few weeks ago. I havent seen the little bugger since, I know it's still alive because I recently found a molt.

Paintbug · 06/15/2007, 08:32 AM

emeralds are not very social most days, but when they do come out they are very entertaining

. with the snail, the reason it went to the surface is to acclimate to the water. when i add snails, i float the bag for about 15mins. then put the snails in an empty bowl or something, and let them dry out for 10mins or so. then place them above the water line. they will acclimate themselves after that.

06/14/2007, 04:25 PM	#1
TammyLiz Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 903	Is my CUC OK? I'm not sure... I added the first stock to my tank today and I'm worried about them. I don't know how I should expect them to act. I got a scarlet hermit, an astrea snail, and an emerald crab. The hermit crab is still sitting right where I put him, which is a high current area on the sand bed in the front of the tank. He spent some time cleaning his appendages and now he's just sitting there looking around. The snail went to the surface right away. It is currently at the surface on the glass. Earlier it was above the surface of the water on the glass. The emerald crab immediately hid and I can just barely see him between pieces of live rock, in a different spot but hiding nonetheless. Is this to be expected or should I be worried? In case more information is needed: I acclimated them by floating them for about half an hour (probably too long, I know), then putting them in a bucket of half store water and half my tank water for 15 minutes before adding them to the tank. The tank is well established, having been set up for two years, but I just bought it from someone who had lost interest, so it was just moved Monday. There was nothing in it but polyps, mushrooms and tube worms, basically. I had the guy at the LFS check params and they were all 0 but salinity was 1.022 so I need to get that up a little but he said the animals would be fine. Last edited by TammyLiz; 06/14/2007 at 04:36 PM.

06/14/2007, 07:32 PM	#4
petoonia HereWeGoAgain... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,648	Just give it some time. It would probably be best to shut the light out. What's the tanks temp at? __________________ I've been in the hobby for about 10 years....(so I know a little bit)...(but not all that much).... Current Tank Info: 58G. Oceanic (Starphire). Mixed Reef

06/14/2007, 09:49 PM	#6
petoonia HereWeGoAgain... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,648	I put an emerald crab in my tank a few weeks ago. I havent seen the little bugger since, I know it's still alive because I recently found a molt. __________________ I've been in the hobby for about 10 years....(so I know a little bit)...(but not all that much).... Current Tank Info: 58G. Oceanic (Starphire). Mixed Reef

06/15/2007, 08:32 AM	#7
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	emeralds are not very social most days, but when they do come out they are very entertaining . with the snail, the reason it went to the surface is to acclimate to the water. when i add snails, i float the bag for about 15mins. then put the snails in an empty bowl or something, and let them dry out for 10mins or so. then place them above the water line. they will acclimate themselves after that. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

06/14/2007, 04:54 PM	#2
jba6511 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 55	the snail should be fine but the others I am not to sure about. Next time try and acclimate your livestock by drip acclimating. Someone else can tell you more about the emerald and hermit I am sure.

06/14/2007, 06:50 PM	#3
TammyLiz Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 903	I guess acclimating is more important in saltwater than in fresh. I already knew that but I figured these guys are hardy... Would raising the SG a teeny bit by adding some water with high SG help them at all if they're in osmotic shock? Or make it worse? Nothing has changed yet as far as their behavior.

06/14/2007, 08:00 PM	#5
TammyLiz Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 903	Thanks. I'll turn them off. It appears they will probably be ok. I guess like you said they just needed some time because both crabs are foraging now. When they settle in they're going to think they're living in heaven because there is a LOT of algae in it. They gave me a scare, though. Man, that emerald crab is neat. EDIT: The temp is 80 F