How long will barnacles survive in aquaria?

Sierra_Bravo · Apr 23, 2018

My rock came from Tampa Bay Saltwater and was covered in barnacles. I've read that barnacles will not live long in our aquariums, however mine are still going strong a year later as evidenced by the crappy 1 a.m. cell phone video below.

How long have yours survivied?

Tahoe61 · Apr 23, 2018

That is pretty cool. Great biodiversity.

I have had them come in on Acropora. The barnacles did well, and existed just fine.

Sierra_Bravo · Apr 23, 2018

Tahoe61 said:
That is pretty cool. Great biodiversity.

The barnacles, sponges, tunicates, feather dusters, worms, and all the rest of the micro-fauna made it well worth chasing the few rogue crabs that came with it. I can't imagine starting with sterile dry rock.

ca1ore · Apr 23, 2018

I had barnacles last for a few years before something ate them. Key, as with all non-photosythesizers, is to have adequate small particulate food.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 23, 2018

I wonder if I had been carbon dosing at the time (I wasn't, not sure if anyone was then) if my filter feeders that came on my rock would have lasted longer. :)