Handling live rock

[Wolf89]

I am worried about gorilla crabs and mantis shrimp hitch hiking in my TBS live rock. What should I do about this? Like what kind of gloves could counter those? thanks

 

[saltyhog]

I don't think you have much of anything to fear from either of those guys. If present on the live rock they will most likely be hiding in crevices until the rock is in the tank and motionless for a while.

I had a few gorrila crabs, a single polyclad flatworm but no mantis shrimp with my TBS rock. I know some people have gotten them though. I had many more good hitch hikers than bad.

 

[Scott Williamson]

Good morning! You could wear simple latex or nitrile gloves, but I have never had a problem handling live rock. You could rinse your new love rock in some fresh salt water and see if you could flush any critters out before you add to your display tank.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Another worry is cutting your hands and getting an infection from the rock. I use 22mil nitrile gloves made by ansell.

 

[Jay Z]

I use the black nitrile gloves. I rinse inside and out first. I won't handle anything going in my tank, or touch any thing in the tank with out them. For my safety and theirs. I never know where my hands have been!

 

[Captain Quint]

I admit, I'm the dummy that doesn't wear gloves and for ~45 years have had umpteen cuts some of which were quite deep and required stitches and had infections from LR.

If putting into a dry tank you could even wear some work gloves as to not tear the nitrile ones.