400 gallon project - Page 46

Delphinus · #**451** 01-21-2008, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by untamed

These are certainly not 'pods' as most of us know them. Actually, they look pretty much like the mantis fry in that link. Here's my best shot of one.

They hang onto the branch with their back end. It's pretty much impossible to get a really good picture of one as the coral moves about in the current. In this shot, it is dead centre of the frame, leaning toward 10 O'clock. You can see both of the large raptorial appendages that lead me to believe that is what these are. This critter is probably 7-8mm long.

[...]

Did you ever confirm if these were mantis fry?

I was at an LFS today and saw something similar on some gorgonians. A bit smaller than yours though, these were barely a couple mm in size. In fact they were easy to mistake as just "general fuzz" caught on the gorgonian polyps but they were definitely alive.

justinl · #**452** 01-21-2008, 06:28 AM

i had forgotten about that post. well i know what it is now; that's a caprellid (skeleton shrimp). cool and harmless critters. they use their hind legs to clamp on to any sort of substrate like algae or gorgonian in which they can camouflage (obviously) and let the rest of their body drift in the current and wait for unsuspecting plankton to pass by. Do you know if you still have any Brad?

here's a close up of one...
http://forum.mikroscopia.com/uploads...1156918102.jpg

Delphinus · #**453** 01-21-2008, 06:35 AM

That's definitely what I saw today. Very cool! Hummm, I might go back and buy a gorgonian now

untamed · #**454** 01-21-2008, 03:43 PM

These shrimp did not survive. As far as I know, I no longer have them in the tank. Thanks for the id!

Chowder · #**455** 01-21-2008, 03:47 PM

I had those shrimp in my old seahorse tank as well. They also did disappear after a while. Not sure if they were eaten by the tank inhabitants or died off.

untamed · #**456** 01-29-2008, 09:36 PM

First...someone please confirm for me that this little guy is a Vlamingi Tang. He has settled in nicely among all the larger fish and is eating well. Little do the other fish know who will be king in a few years!

Next...This Foxface Rabbitfish is also doing well. Like the Yellow Tang, I suppose every tank needs to have one of these...so I finally relented.

Finally...another shot of Moe. Just because "she" likes to pose for me.

An update on the White Cheek Tang. Inexplicably, he is now good buddies with the Achillies Tang. It seems that the rule in fishdom is "If I don't kill you, you get to be my friend". This means he is now free to roam the tank and eat with the others, so he is also going to be fine.

Joe Reefer · #**457** 01-29-2008, 09:49 PM

That looks like a Vlamingi to me. They seem to be very common in stores these days.

untamed · #**458** 01-29-2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Reefer

That looks like a Vlamingi to me. They seem to be very common in stores these days.

I can only hope that people realize what they are buying. I did, but I believe that I have a tank suitable for a fish of that size.

Joe Reefer · #**459** 01-30-2008, 01:06 AM

They sure are in for a suprise when it becomes a 2ft poo machine.

untamed · #**460** 02-01-2008, 10:43 PM

I've always wanted one of these. So far, he's taken a bit of abuse from the Achillies Tang and the Bicolour Angel. I've seen worse though, so I hope he'll make it.