BadCrab

Some cell phone pictures with minor post processing (white balance); these and dozens more will be available starting this Thursday @ 3. Rock Flowers: http://imgur.com/Gk1oS54 Blastos: http://imgur.com/Ee2u9M0 Brains (MANY! Open and Closed/Maze): http://imgur.com/jNTbwLN http://imgur.com/q6pW6Wr Mushrooms! Mushrooms! Mushrooms! (Rhodactis, Yuma, Discosoma - in many many colors and patterns.) http://imgur.com/UJX8bZC Bubbles! http://imgur.com/cyeS2Pj Green-Polyp Toadstools http://imgur.com/iO94pqF And of course our frag racks of full of micro-colonies that are healed and grown out (Some of these have been growing in our system since last MACNA now at hugely reduced prices): http://imgur.com/L6znWJZ http://imgur.com/MFLpD8D

Sorry for the bad quality and super blue cell phone pictures, but I figured something was better then nothing until I have time with the DSLR. Just some of the larger coral we've brought in this week...

Hello everyone! Here are the requested pictures of the aquacultured Acropora we received 2/2/16. Pictures taken 2/6/16. Few things to keep in mind: Available for local pickup during retail hours: THU/FRI 3-7, SAT 10-6, SUN 11-5 I'm new to photography and criticism is welcome! Nikon D7000 w/ 18-105mm kit lens & Kenko extension tubes Taken under T5 with very minimal post processing ...... A01 A01 [Detail] ...... A02 A02 [Detail] ...... A03 A03 [Detail] ...... A04 A04 [Detail] ...... A05 A05 [Detail] ...... A06 A06 [Detail] ...... A07 A07 [Detail] ...... A08 A08 [Detail] ...... A09 ...... A10 A10 [Detail] ...... A11 A11 [Detail] ...... A12 A12 [Detail] ...... A13 A13 [Detail]

I'm hoping I have some time this week to break out the DSLR on some of our livestock, but here is an iPhone picture of one of the male H. subelongatus; the color on these guys is outstanding. The remaining pairs are all eating PE Mysis (some seem more keen then others...) These guys are BIG, too.

Another fun treat with pom poms is that they will share the anemones they use (propagating them) to pomless pom poms. Its fairly common for them to pickup polyps, aiptasia, and even small majanos if the T. Producta they normally carry die.

Decorators are still crabs, meaning they are opportunistic feeders. Provided you keep him well fed he shouldn't harm your stars and urchins. Provide him with enough macro, sponges, or polyps to get camo'd and (again provided he is well fed) your puffer should leave him alone, too.

Should be fine. On the back of snails is the only way I've been able to grow some macros (red gracilaria!)

I find that (generally) the longer someone stays in the hobby the more they gravitate to an all snail CUC. All crabs (even micro hermits) are opportunistic feeders and if they have to climb over polyps to reach food they don't exactly tread lightly.

I don't believe ORA produces mandarins anymore (hobbyists simply would not pay the premium for captive bred vs wild caught.) That being said, the batches they released were notorious for not eating after shipment or being extremely finicky ova eaters that still couldn't compete in normal reef environments. Some comments about your other choices: BSJs are awesome and interactive... They prefer to make a home in the front of the tank where they can keep an eye on the action - but they are expensive (expect $100-125) and WILL jump if a tight fitting lid isn't on the tank. Galaxia... The tales about the sweeper tentacles are usually under represented. A baseball sized colony will easily send sweepers up to a foot long in your tank and they pack a nasty punch. Maxi-mini carpets are probably the hardiest and easiest anemones to care for (along with rock flowers) they won't capture fish and healthy inverts know how to maneuver in or around them. Sexy shrimp LOVE to have host mini maxis. Fairy wrasse is a great choice (again, assuming your tank is covered) for something in the 50g range. Stay away from the larger species like Solar, and keep them with other less aggressive fish. They are prone to being bullied. Not a fairy, but another good small tank wrasse are the possum wrasses. Hope that helps

I got a job at Petland's aquatic department and start tomorrow. Everyone I've met in the hobby so far has been awesome... Can't wait to meet more of you at the next WAMAS event.

A Duncan species tank would be pretty neat. I know you said you didn't want clowns, but they take to Duncan hosts well and there's a reason they're the most popular fish in the industry (very interactive, hardy, and long lived); I'm sure that sexy shrimp or other symbiotic glass shrimp would take to them well, too.

They can change sexes, but this sounds more like an individual personality issue and not necessarily mating/pairing behavior. I would trade out the current female if I was in your situation.

I have tickets but I haven't made plane or hotel reservations yet (ugh)

Ashburn at Atley on the Greenway, here!

Hey Brad! I'm that guy. We are here, but exhausted from the plane travel. Dulles is a nice airport. Probably going to start making rounds to the LFS tomorrow