Convince me I shouldn't get a Purple Reef Lobster

oakengineer · 06/28/2014, 06:13 PM

These looks really cool:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...555&pcatid=555

But is it a good idea? The site says they're easy. Is that true? I'm currently cycling a 65 gal, and its my first saltwater tank. I was planning to do a FOWLR.

pmrossetti · 06/28/2014, 06:20 PM

What else you gonna keep?

oakengineer · 06/28/2014, 06:22 PM

Well I want a yellow goby, flame angel, and maybe a pair of clowns or damsels.

pmrossetti · 06/28/2014, 07:55 PM

Not recommended.
He'll get em while they sleep, or sooner.

SammyL · 06/28/2014, 08:07 PM

I think the flame angel might have some fun with him.

oakengineer · 06/28/2014, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrossetti

Not recommended.
He'll get em while they sleep, or sooner.

What is a recommended playmate for a for a reef lobster?

pmrossetti · 06/28/2014, 10:22 PM

Well, they're pretty crabby. I wouldn't trust them around much.
Bigger fish that he can't catch. And won't eat him.

Gagonzalez · 06/28/2014, 10:26 PM

Can't go with much big fish in a 65g so I would opt out on that Reef lobster if I were you and stick with the fish you like.

SaltyWalter · 06/28/2014, 10:44 PM

I have a 2 year old 5" purple reef lobster, the tank has had an ORA Spotted mandarin the entire time, including its upgrade from a Red Sea max 130d to the c250 recently. There are also a pair of black occys, a pj cardinal, longnose hawk, yellow tang, baby blue hippo and a melanarus. There's a 2 year old queen conch, huge Sally light foot and lots of other cleanup crew, he bothers nothing! Its a fully stocked softie/lps/Anemone tank. I've seen lots of others who are well behaved also, but have heard of some wrecking havoc on too small of tanks. Keeping it well fed I'm sure would help. I'm not saying get one for sure, just sharing my great experience!
Pics were taken during tank transfer a few month ago.

billdogg · 06/29/2014, 07:06 AM

It's just about time for some drawn butter???

Sugar Magnolia · 06/29/2014, 07:23 AM

That sally is huge!

kmbyrnes · 06/29/2014, 07:55 AM

I vote yes.
I have had them in a 12g nano and now in my 110.
I don't see him often during the day, but he prowls around at night looking for goodies among the rocks.
I've got big and small fish, softies, zoas and mushrooms. He has never bothered anyone in the tank.
Fun to watch him eat a piece of scallop or scoot away from the light

SaltyWalter · 06/29/2014, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

It's just about time for some drawn butter???

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

That sally is huge!

That's what she said

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmbyrnes

I vote yes.
I have had them in a 12g nano and now in my 110.
I don't see him often during the day, but he prowls around at night looking for goodies among the rocks.
I've got big and small fish, softies, zoas and mushrooms. He has never bothered anyone in the tank
Fun to watch him eat a piece of scallop or scoot away from the light

+1, hardly ever seen except feeding time or peeking in his cave

shesacharmer · 06/30/2014, 05:51 AM

I'd be afraid of a 5" monster tromping around in my tank...I have enough problems with one 1 inch Hermit!

igot2gats · 06/30/2014, 06:48 AM

Weird that LA doesn't provide a minimum tank size.

From what I've read on them, you need to keep them well fed, as well as target feed them.

Here's some good reading on them:

http://www.fishchannel.com/saltwater...-lobsters.aspx

I'll let more people chime in on their experiences, as I've never had one.

St Pete John · 06/30/2014, 06:54 AM

I have no idea how it will behave but i do know they look cool as ****!

Fishy 1 · 06/30/2014, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shesacharmer

I'd be afraid of a 5" monster tromping around in my tank...I have enough problems with one 1 inch Hermit!

1+ hehehe the lil hermits are like bulldozers

ca1ore · 06/30/2014, 07:03 AM

I've had purple reef lobsters a number of times, and while I was never able to directly link it to a fish death, they are cryptic so you may only see it occasionally.

AZBigJohn · 06/30/2014, 11:38 AM

Man, I wish I hadn't clicked into this thread... I had always heard they were the terror of a tank; now I read that article and all the comments and I may have to try one...

ryanerickson · 06/30/2014, 12:04 PM

Someone I know has one it killed his clown tang took 3/4 of the back tail right off not reef safe in my opinion.

hkgar · 06/30/2014, 12:40 PM

If you measure by yeses and noes let me add 400 noes no no no no etc

Had one, he or she killed fish. Even if the odds are only 10% are going to risk spending hundreds of dollars for fish that may become lobster food.

It just doesn't seem worth the financial risk,

06/28/2014, 06:13 PM	#1
oakengineer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 234	Convince me I shouldn't get a Purple Reef Lobster These looks really cool: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...555&pcatid=555 But is it a good idea? The site says they're easy. Is that true? I'm currently cycling a 65 gal, and its my first saltwater tank. I was planning to do a FOWLR.

06/29/2014, 07:06 AM	#10
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	It's just about time for some drawn butter??? __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

06/29/2014, 07:23 AM	#11
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	That sally is huge! __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

06/29/2014, 07:55 AM	#12
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	I vote yes. I have had them in a 12g nano and now in my 110. I don't see him often during the day, but he prowls around at night looking for goodies among the rocks. I've got big and small fish, softies, zoas and mushrooms. He has never bothered anyone in the tank. Fun to watch him eat a piece of scallop or scoot away from the light __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

06/30/2014, 05:51 AM	#14
shesacharmer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Central NH Posts: 1,241	I'd be afraid of a 5" monster tromping around in my tank...I have enough problems with one 1 inch Hermit! __________________ 75 gal, LR w/refugium, 79 deg, PH 8.0, sg 1.025, amm 0/nit 0/nit 0, Calcium 420, dKH 8.3, mag 1300, Phos 0 Current Tank Info: A work in progress...

06/28/2014, 06:20 PM	#2
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	What else you gonna keep?

06/28/2014, 06:22 PM	#3
oakengineer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 234	Well I want a yellow goby, flame angel, and maybe a pair of clowns or damsels.

06/28/2014, 07:55 PM	#4
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	Not recommended. He'll get em while they sleep, or sooner.

06/28/2014, 08:07 PM	#5
SammyL Reefer Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Mohnton, PA Posts: 313	I think the flame angel might have some fun with him.

06/28/2014, 10:22 PM	#7
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	Well, they're pretty crabby. I wouldn't trust them around much. Bigger fish that he can't catch. And won't eat him.

06/28/2014, 10:26 PM	#8
Gagonzalez Reef Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 703	Can't go with much big fish in a 65g so I would opt out on that Reef lobster if I were you and stick with the fish you like.

06/28/2014, 10:44 PM	#9
SaltyWalter FUP&A Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 402	I have a 2 year old 5" purple reef lobster, the tank has had an ORA Spotted mandarin the entire time, including its upgrade from a Red Sea max 130d to the c250 recently. There are also a pair of black occys, a pj cardinal, longnose hawk, yellow tang, baby blue hippo and a melanarus. There's a 2 year old queen conch, huge Sally light foot and lots of other cleanup crew, he bothers nothing! Its a fully stocked softie/lps/Anemone tank. I've seen lots of others who are well behaved also, but have heard of some wrecking havoc on too small of tanks. Keeping it well fed I'm sure would help. I'm not saying get one for sure, just sharing my great experience! Pics were taken during tank transfer a few month ago.

06/30/2014, 06:48 AM	#15
igot2gats Deeeetroit Basketball! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,063	Weird that LA doesn't provide a minimum tank size. From what I've read on them, you need to keep them well fed, as well as target feed them. Here's some good reading on them: http://www.fishchannel.com/saltwater...-lobsters.aspx I'll let more people chime in on their experiences, as I've never had one. __________________ Jeff Stop being lazy, and use the search function. Seriously. Current Tank Info: 75g DT / 20g sump / 20g QT - Eheim 1250, Tunze Osmolator 3155, GHL Profilux 3, 2 Tunze 6095, Tunze Wavebox, Aqua Illumination Hydra LEDs

06/30/2014, 06:54 AM	#16
St Pete John Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: St. Petersburg FL Posts: 169	I have no idea how it will behave but i do know they look cool as ****!

06/30/2014, 07:03 AM	#18
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I've had purple reef lobsters a number of times, and while I was never able to directly link it to a fish death, they are cryptic so you may only see it occasionally. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

06/30/2014, 11:38 AM	#19
AZBigJohn Usually confused... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,091	Man, I wish I hadn't clicked into this thread... I had always heard they were the terror of a tank; now I read that article and all the comments and I may have to try one... __________________ John Current Tank Info: Currently a 29 gallon all-in-one frag tank and a 210 gallon tank slowly becoming my dream system!

06/30/2014, 12:04 PM	#20
ryanerickson Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Vancouver bc canada Posts: 109	Someone I know has one it killed his clown tang took 3/4 of the back tail right off not reef safe in my opinion.

06/30/2014, 12:40 PM	#21
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	If you measure by yeses and noes let me add 400 noes no no no no etc Had one, he or she killed fish. Even if the odds are only 10% are going to risk spending hundreds of dollars for fish that may become lobster food. It just doesn't seem worth the financial risk, __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels