hermit crab with an anemone

reefNetWork · 06/10/2006, 12:55 PM

Yesterday at a LFS i stopped by i saw a big hermit crab with an anemone on its back. it was the craziest looking crab ive ever seen. has anyone else seen one of these? i wanted to get it but it doesnt seem safe to a have a crab running around your tank with an anemone on its back stinging everything.

reefNetWork · 06/10/2006, 12:55 PM

Actually there was more like 3 small anemones on its back.

Apparition · 06/10/2006, 05:41 PM

They're pretty common online, but I've only ever seen one at my LFS. The only problem is that the anenome's often die, but if it's alive at the LFS then that's probably a good sign. Like any anenome, I'm sure the stinging would bother corals, but considering their small size it might not be a problem. I'd be interested in what others have to say about this too.

LeslieH · 06/10/2006, 08:15 PM

The most common anemone crab is Dardanus pedunculatus but there are several other species. These are big aggressive predators which will do their best to eat pretty much everything in your tank. Not a good choice unless you plan to dedicate a tank just to the crab.

reefNetWork · 06/12/2006, 01:48 AM

yeah i wont be getting one. i just thought it was pretty sweet looking. thanks

Rossini · 06/12/2006, 07:09 AM

I have just got rid of mine. Took him to a LFS in exchange fro some Nass snails. He was a real character. But he killed a few red leg hermits,and I caught him trying to catch my LN Butterflyfish. He lived i the sump after that. The anemones were great they split,and grew into three. They were a really nice pink colour.

I would advise against keeping one of these.

06/10/2006, 12:55 PM	#1
reefNetWork Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 365	hermit crab with an anemone Yesterday at a LFS i stopped by i saw a big hermit crab with an anemone on its back. it was the craziest looking crab ive ever seen. has anyone else seen one of these? i wanted to get it but it doesnt seem safe to a have a crab running around your tank with an anemone on its back stinging everything. __________________ William Current Tank Info: 80 gallon reef. 20 Gallon Sump. Little Giant MDQX - SC Pump. ASM G1x skimmer. 4x96 watt 50/50 PCs

06/10/2006, 12:55 PM	#2
reefNetWork Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 365	Actually there was more like 3 small anemones on its back. __________________ William Current Tank Info: 80 gallon reef. 20 Gallon Sump. Little Giant MDQX - SC Pump. ASM G1x skimmer. 4x96 watt 50/50 PCs

06/10/2006, 08:15 PM	#4
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	The most common anemone crab is Dardanus pedunculatus but there are several other species. These are big aggressive predators which will do their best to eat pretty much everything in your tank. Not a good choice unless you plan to dedicate a tank just to the crab. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

06/12/2006, 01:48 AM	#5
reefNetWork Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 365	yeah i wont be getting one. i just thought it was pretty sweet looking. thanks __________________ William Current Tank Info: 80 gallon reef. 20 Gallon Sump. Little Giant MDQX - SC Pump. ASM G1x skimmer. 4x96 watt 50/50 PCs

06/10/2006, 05:41 PM	#3
Apparition Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 199	They're pretty common online, but I've only ever seen one at my LFS. The only problem is that the anenome's often die, but if it's alive at the LFS then that's probably a good sign. Like any anenome, I'm sure the stinging would bother corals, but considering their small size it might not be a problem. I'd be interested in what others have to say about this too.

06/12/2006, 07:09 AM	#6
Rossini Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: UK Posts: 494	I have just got rid of mine. Took him to a LFS in exchange fro some Nass snails. He was a real character. But he killed a few red leg hermits,and I caught him trying to catch my LN Butterflyfish. He lived i the sump after that. The anemones were great they split,and grew into three. They were a really nice pink colour. I would advise against keeping one of these.