cleaner lobster

[jamal]

i have a reef lobster in my tank that i believe was trying to clean my male anthias. either that or he missed when trying to attack him. doubt the latter as the anthias swam away upside down and happy. now all of my anthias are going in the cave. i didnt know lobsters do cleanings

[davelin315]

Post up a picture of what a "reef lobster" is. Lobsters are in general opportunistic feeders so I'd watch out. Although many juvenile fish serve as cleaners I don't believe the same holds true for lobsters of any species.

[jamal]

http://www.aquacon.com/lobsters.htmlreef lobster

[davelin315]

OK, that's gargage that it will ignore sleeping wrasses or healthy fish in the aquarium. It's an opportunistic feeder and if it gets a chance, it will dine. Some wrasses secrete a protective slime coating that encases them at night as they sleep so it might help them to avoid becoming prey to lobsters, but I had a lobster like this and if it had a chance to eat something it would. It's more defensive than anything, but again, if opportunity knocks, this kind of lobster will open that door without a second thought.

[fab]

From the link you provided above:

 

The Reef Lobster is 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.

Looks pretty clear to me that you should expect these guys to eat your fish. Lobsters are omnivores. I've never heard of a lobster that was not mainly carniverous.

 

fab

[jason the filter freak]

Still it sounds kinda neat, but I certianly wouldn't trust it

[dandy7200]

I don't know about the lobster, what I do know is aquacon.com is one of the biggest prblem/scam vendors on the net. I would avoid them like the plague and never trust anything they say.

[jamal]

i know they are bs. i just used them because i wanted to put up a pic. i realize they are much like crabs in that you cant trust them in general. i have been lucky so far. he will only be able to strike when they are sleep but he doesnt move around the tank. he stays in his cave even while my trigger sleeps