Purple Lobster

[grumpy_banghai]

Hello are the Purple Lobster safe or do they hunt down little fish @ night?
Any experiance with these? :confused:

[trik]

Found this if of any use

Purple Lobster

Purple Lobster, Enoplometopus daumi, is a uniquely-colored and extremely hardy aquarium addition. Also known as Daum’s Reef Lobster, it displays shades of purple coloring with white mottlings across its carapace. The body and claws of the Purple Lobster, as with other members of the genus Enoplometopus are covered with sensory filaments that give it its “hairy” appearance. Preferred to other lobsters because of its 5-6” maximum size, it is also considered to be reef safe, as it will typically not bother other aquarium inhabitants. Possible exceptions are some invertebrates and some smaller bottom-dwelling fish. Lobsters should be kept one-per-aquarium, because they are territorial and intolerant of one another. The Purple Lobster is basically a nocturnal creature, but may be visible through the day on rock overhangs and in the shadows. Eventually, the lobster may learn that food is present more during daytime hours and may break this habit. Typically shy initially, this lobster is a highly effective scavenger that will feed on most any meaty food. It is a true carnivore that has a penchant for clam meat. Medications containing copper must never be used in the presence of lobsters (or of most hard-shelled crustaceans.) All lobsters require Live Rock or similar aquarium decoration to use for hiding, especially when molting. This species must molt in order to grow. Molting generally occurs at night, when the lobster will lay on its back and exit its exoskeleton. A new exoskeleton is excreted and will harden over a period of several hours. The animal is vulnerable at this time and should not be disturbed. Proper iodine levels assist with successful molting.

Notes: Lobsters are sensitive to changes in water conditions such as temperature, pH, and salinity. Acclimation should occur over a period of a few hours to ensure best chances for a successful transition.


Richard:)

[grumpy_banghai]

Nice info there. Some people have said avoid as they can attack little fish @ night time. Also some folk have said you never see the creature in the light. I might go for some bumblebee shrimp instead :D

[moorish]

nice article,some good information.derek

[Dal]

Ive got a pink lobster in my reef and so far he's been fine apart from I suspect he ate 2 peppermint shrimp I put in there a while back I put them in and never saw them again to this day, Im trying to find him at the moment I knew where his cave was in my old 4ft and made sure he got a nice lump off food after the shrimp disappearance, so he wont feel the need to eat anything else he shouldn't, Keep him fat keeps him away I suppose, I did see him have a bit of a ruck with my largest crap fighting for territory I suppose.
Id say go for it if your tanks large enough

HTH
Dal :thumbsup:

[MrK]

Hello.

I had a little purple cute lobster:). He loved brine shrimp and flake for dinner and tea. Every sunday he got a lance fish and he never seemed to bother any of my fish:D. After a while of good eating he seemed to grow to silly size for a purple lobster & decided that healthy fish tasted better than frozen:(. After a few night vigils sat in front of my tank with a red light on I saw the Not so cute purple lobster dining on my old friend scooter blenny:eek:. He now lives in the L/R tank at my LFS with snails for company.

Moral of this story is they are great until they grow.

HTH Mark

[grumpy_banghai]

lol no way I'm getting one! My Scooter blenny is so slow he'd die first! He stop starts stop starts can't move in one contineous motion so he struggles to catch his brine shrimp! Silly scooter!