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Daum's Reef Lobster  

Enoplometopus daumi 

 

Care Level: Easy

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Reef Compatible: With Caution

Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025

Diet: Carnivore

Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements

Compatibility: View Chart

 

 

Crinoid Squat Lobster (Allogalathea elegans)

 

courtesy to : www.live aquaria .com 

Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons

Care Level: Easy

Temperament: Peaceful

Reef Compatible: Yes

Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025

Max. Size: 2"

Color Form: Black, Yellow

Diet: Carnivore

Supplements: Calcium, Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements

Compatibility: View Chart

Origin: Indonesia

Family: Galatheidae

The Crinoid Squat Lobster is one of the most interesting nano-inverts to enter the hobby in recent years. They are peaceful and completely reef safe. The Crinoid Squat Lobster is very small, most reaching only up to 1-1/2" or 2" in size.

 

According to LiveAquaria.com expert hobbyist Felicia McCaulley, "Common Squat Lobsters can sometimes be found as hitchhikers on live rock or corals and make fine pets, but these hitchhikers are normally dull colored. Crinoid Squat Lobsters such as the ones pictured above are becoming more common in the aquarium trade. In the wild, these crustaceans are commensal on Crinoid Feather Sea Stars. They use the sea stars for camouflage and steal their food.

 

Crinoid Feather Stars are one of the most difficult echinoderms to successfully maintain in aquariums. Luckily, these Crinoid Squat Lobsters do not require them for survival. They readily accept frozen foods and adapt well to aquarium life."

 

Unless you find a mated pair, two of the same species shouldn't be kept in the same aquarium as they will fight.

 

Approximate Purchase Size: 3/4" to 1"

Allogalathea elegans :

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

 

 

1>2..

Allogalathea elegans (known as the feather star squat lobster, crinoid squat lobster or elegant squat lobster) is a species of squat lobster that is sometimes kept in marine aquariums.

 

 

 

Description: 

The cephalothorax of Allogalathea elegans is droplet-shaped. The extremity of the body corresponds to the triangular rostrum of the animal, which are positioned on each side the pedunculated eyes. Thechelipeds or the first pair of legs are endowed with pincers and are longer than the animal body. The last pair of legs are wasted. The body and mainly the legs are covered with small hairs. The animal's size depends on the sex. Females are usually bigger than males but never grow over 2 cm.  The animal's coloration is variable and is matching the colours of its host but not systematically.  It can be uniform and varied from dark red, blackish purple, orange or brown. But generally, the observed animals have longitudinal stripes which the thickness, the number and the tint varies

Distribution : 

 

Allogalathea elegans lives in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacificarea, Red Sea included.

 

Habitat : 

 

Allogalathea elegans is a commensal species living in association withcrinoids in which it gets protection and an ideal support for its feeding. However, the animal can live outside its host, but on the other hand itslife expectancy will be shorter because it will not be any more shielded from the predators . 

 

 

 

 

Feeding : 

 

Allogalathea elegans feeds off plankton while taking advantage of its host who has the same diet and who always positions in the best catchment areas for the plankton to feed.

 

Behaviour:

 

Allogalathea elegans lives in couple on their host. The observation is not always easy because or the animal exposes itself in the crinoid's arms when both are feeding, or it hides at the level of the claws foot of his host.

 

In aquaria  : 

 

In an aquarium, A. elegans requires a water temperature of 77–79 °F (25–26 °C), a pH of 8.1–8.3 and a salinity of 1.020–1.024. Small crevices in rocks act as hiding places for this shy crustacean. A. elegans prefers thawed food but will also eat small freeze dried items

 

 

References : 

 

 

Black and white colour morph

The Daum's Reef Lobster has elongated, flat appendages that are used mostly for show. Its body is a vivid purple and orange color with red spotting over it.

 

While it prefers to roam at night, it will usually ignore sleeping Wrasses, but sometimes will bother invertebrates. It will need a good hiding place after it molts while it waits for its new exoskeleton to harden. The cave can be designed so that it can be seen during the day, but it will spend most of the daylight hours in its cave hiding from the light.

 

The Daum's Reef Lobster prefers an aquarium with live rock so that it can roam over the surface looking for food. It is extremely difficult to breed in captivity. To see its distinguishing characteristics which help differentiate it from its mate, look under its abdomen. It is sensitive to high levels of copper-based medications.

 

Approximate shipping size: 1-1/2" to 3"

Debelius' Reef Lobster  

Enoplometopus sp. 

 

Care Level: Easy

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Reef Compatible: With Caution

Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025

Max. Size: 5"

Color Form: Orange, Purple, White

Diet: Omnivore

Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine, Trace Elements

Compatibility: View Chart

Origin: Indo-Pacific

Family: Nephropidae

 

 

The Debelius' Reef Lobster, also known as the Purple/Orange Reef Lobster, has a white to lavender body, with orange and violet spots. The elongated, flat claws which are used for threats and defense may be purple, as well.

 

An ideal environment should have a thick gravel bed for burrowing, and rocks for hiding, as well as live rock on which to hunt. After molting, the Reef Lobster will need a secure hiding place, such as a cave, while it waits for its new exoskeleton to harden. The cave can be designed so that the lobster can be seen during the day, but it usually will spend most of the daylight hours hiding from the light. It prefers to scavenge and hunt at night. The Reef Lobster is described as peaceful, and it will ignore sleeping Wrasses or healthy fish within the aquarium. Caution must be taken when incorporating into a reef aquarium, as it may harm small fish and invertebrates. All Reef Lobsters are very territorial and aggressive towards each other, so only one specimen, or a mated pair should be kept per tank. It is sensitive to high levels of copper-based medications.

 

Most of the diet will consist of food it scavenges, but supplementing with iodine-rich foods will help ensure proper molting.

 

Approximate Purchase Size: Small 1" to 2-1/4", Medium 2 1/4" to 3 1/2", Large 3 1/2" to 4 1/2"

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