My tank.

[SillyDaddy]

Okay it is nothing fancy, but I thought I would share my tank with everyone and ask for information on a few things. I have what is the equivalent of about 1.5 Gallons of water and then the decorations in a $19 jar atop a lazy Susan, but I want to find a 5-8 gallon cylindrical "Glass" container. Otherwise, would a Any ideas? Edit: It is nearly filled to the top, I just needed to get more water prepared to top it off... The first pictures are from when I had my initial set-up.

Second, I admit my first order came from Hawaii and has a couple of rescues from the death orbs (Exosphere) they sell in stores, but I also noticed I have Metabetaeus lohena in my mix... How much do they eat? Edit: There are 2 M. lohena.

I am also looking for new ideas, larger rough lava pieces (Red or Black) and more coral decorations. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Lastly, I would like to know what the brown striped, skinny tube looking things are in the last picture from another page.

[SillyDaddy]

My tank, additional pics... I would love feedback and ideas.

[danzel]

Nice tank. I believe that is tiger coral.

Is there too little water for your shrimps?

[KenCotigirl]

Nice cookie jar. I might add a couple inches of water as all the decor takes up a lot of water volume. Go up to the shoulder of the jar.

In your new tank I would use less substrate. Maybe only a half inch. Otherwise I really like all the coral. The Meta eats just like the rubra's. Nothing special.

[SillyDaddy]

These pics are from last year... I have added water since then and they enjoy a full swimming area. I will take new pictures when I can afford the new camera. These pics were taken with me cell phone. I am looking for a larger cylindrical glass tank, If anyone knows or hears of anything (Under $300.00 US) please let me know.

[Mustafa]

Thanks for the pictures! Do you think you can take a picture of the M. lohena?

[SillyDaddy]

Danzel, They are not tiger coral. I wish I knew what they were though.

Mustafa, Even though you won't share your moss balls, I will respectively do as you request.

[AndyH]

Thanks for posting the pics of the Metabetaeus lohena. I was debating trying to get one of them last year. Have you ever had any supershrimp breeding in your tank? What has been your experience with the M. Iohena interacting with the supershrimp? Does it ever act aggressively toward the smaller shrimps?

[Mustafa]

Thanks for sharing! You'll get your moss balls soon enough..

In my experience the M. lohena do not attack or harass the supershrimp at all. They are voracious and opportunistic feeders and eat anything the supershrimp eat, including pieces of algae they can grasp. I can imagine, though, that, although they don't attack adult supershrimp, they might opportunistically feed on larvae if they they can corner them.

[SillyDaddy]

Actually Mustafa, It has been my experience they don't really have a chance to interact with the H. rubra. The Opae Ula tend to move away when it comes too near. They do eat quite a bit more, but there is plenty in the tank to make it happy... I just abide the time as I wait for it come out of hiding.

[danzel]

So this Metabetaeus lohena is safe to put inside the tank along with opae ula?

Need to change the water conditions or they can survive in the same conditions as opae ula?

[AndyH]

In my experience the M. lohena do not attack or harass the supershrimp at all. They are voracious and opportunistic feeders and eat anything the supershrimp eat, including pieces of algae they can grasp. I can imagine, though, that, although they don't attack adult supershrimp, they might opportunistically feed on larvae if they they can corner them.

That's always been my concern is the possibility of the M. Iohena cornering the supershrimp larvae and eating them. Because the larvae in my tank don't really move around that much... just bob up and down in the corner by the light. Looks to be easy prey.

[SillyDaddy]

In the wild, M. lohena is found in the same pools as the Supershrimp. There is no need to make any changes, but I ask that you try to rescue it from someone local who accidentally ended up with one instead of go for a seller who targets them from the pools in the natuaral Hawaiian environment.

[Mustafa]

Yes, usually the supershrimp get out of the way quickly, so there is no danger, but larvae may get cornered, especially if they swim towards some outside light source after the tank lights go off.

As for keeping M. lohena with Supershrimp...I would not do it as they optimally need more frequent feedings. They can't scrape aufwuchs after all as they have claws instead of "brushes." So...unless you feed them they won't find much to eat, whereas the Supershrimp constantly find something in the tank. Maybe with tons of Macroalgae and tons of light (for rapid macroalagae growth and nutrient uptake) it's possible. Having said that...unless you are an *experienced* breeder of shrimp with saltwater larvae I would *not* recommend buying these shrimp from anyone as all these shrimp are guaranteed wild-caught...and almost certainly illegally/from protected habitats. And...they are much, much rarer than even the Supershrimp.