Hitchhiker predators

[valley]

Hello, I used live ocean rock to start up my 60 gallon breeder and I’m seeing a lot of different critters out. So far I’ve seen emerald crabs, red mithrax crabs, so many of starfish, a mantis shrimp (I’ve seen one but I think I hear more), pistol shrimp, a very small pencil urchin, some fire worms/ bristle worms, a big flatworm, a small hermit crab, a very long gray worm, a sponge crab, and some other strange critters.

I have no clue what some these are and I’m assuming some of these have gotten killed by the mantis. I know that some of these critters are not reef safe so I’d like to know what fish I can get to get rid of some of these harmful critters?

I want to keep the mantis shrimp because it doesn’t seem like it could kill a fish. It’s pretty small and I don’t think it’s a peacock. I managed to take this picture of it; not sure if anyone can ID from this picture but it shows an estimate of its size.

 

[tzabor10]

That picture isn’t too clear. Hope it all works out. I’d be stoked if I were you

 

[Rjukan]

Yeah mantis are the best!


That's mine ^

I would bet money you've got a Neopgonodactylus Wennerae or something very similar if your rock is from florida.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello, I used live ocean rock to start up my 60 gallon breeder and I’m seeing a lot of different critters out. So far I’ve seen emerald crabs, red mithrax crabs, so many of starfish, a mantis shrimp (I’ve seen one but I think I hear more), pistol shrimp, a very small pencil urchin, some fire worms/ bristle worms, a big flatworm, a small hermit crab, a very long gray worm, a sponge crab, and some other strange critters.

I have no clue what some these are and I’m assuming some of these have gotten killed by the mantis. I know that some of these critters are not reef safe so I’d like to know what fish I can get to get rid of some of these harmful critters?

I want to keep the mantis shrimp because it doesn’t seem like it could kill a fish. It’s pretty small and I don’t think it’s a peacock. I managed to take this picture of it; not sure if anyone can ID from this picture but it shows an estimate of its size.

Looks like mantis shrimp which will eat any inverts and possibly grab fish at night. You can setup a mantis shrimp tank with rocks as caves and enjoy it as is but will reap havoc in a community tank