Pitho crabs for bubble algae

[CoralB]

Sponges too!!! Holy Batman this keeps getting better and better. Why hasn’t anyone come out with this info before ?

 

[jhuntstl]

Wow!!! Looks large . How big do they get and can they take out a cryptic wrasse ??? Pic number 3 is huge !!! And who would win in a fight emerald or this guy ???

So the first batch I ordered from Reef Cleaners were from the Atlantic. Not even a week ago I got 6 more, but they are from the Gulf of Mexico. They are considerably larger.

They haven't had any issues with my fish. They are often in close proximity.

I got Emeralds as well. I believe a Pitho would win hands down. =)

 

[JoJosReef]

Well, I don't want to lose my macro OR my sponges, so think the mighty pitho is out for me. Looks like it'll be manual removal!

 

[Lyss]

Pulled this thread b/c I just added a pitho to my tank. I'd had one early last summer that didn't live very long, but it he was incredibly fun while he lasted b/c he was weird and liked to be hand fed. Anyway, my tank is MUCH more mature now and I've got issues with spreading bubble algae and ulva, so I picked up a new pitho. Well, it's just as weird as the first one, lol, and within the first hour I found it munching on bubble algae at the back of the tank, so that's a win.

Quick Q though -- I've seen a few folks talk about them eating bristle worms, which makes me a bit nervous for my feather dusters. Does anyone know if the pitho is likely to bother or hurt my dusters?

 

[bnord]

I had one that lasted a good year and a half or so in a 40 cube. Never had bubble in there for him to experiment on but I wonder how far up rocks they will go to get at Valona

As to the bristle worms I haven’t heard one way or the other.

 

[rmorris_14]

Prepare for Pitho spam.

OH MY GOSH! How cute! This crab has now been added to my list. So many crabs and not enough tanks

 

[mje113]

I'm so happy I found this thread. I saw a really small hitchhiker crab on some KP livestock that had something orange on his head. Checking the photos it has to be a pitho with a sponge or something there. Now I want more!

 

[JoJosReef]

OH MY GOSH! How cute! This crab has now been added to my list. So many crabs and not enough tanks

@jhuntstl that first video where the pitho goes for the nori is pure gold!

 

[PR_nano]

I had one that ate bubble algae and was fun to watch.

https://www.reef2reef.com/data/video/1716/1716937-93e134f3579afde8c0d1b0b18c4af568.mp4

 

[jhuntstl]

@jhuntstl that first video where the pitho goes for the nori is pure gold!

Haha thanks!

I had one that ate bubble algae and was fun to watch.

https://www.reef2reef.com/data/video/1716/1716937-93e134f3579afde8c0d1b0b18c4af568.mp4

They really are hard workers. I got two more the other day for the frag tank. One of them immediately latched on to some GHA and started to chow down.

They do seem happier with a substrate, though. I'm all bare bottom now and I do feel bad at times.

 

[Lyss]

Here’s mine munching on a big clump of bubble algae. Has been very effective in just one day.

Alyssa Yeager | New York City on Instagram: "Miss Pitho Crab chowin’ down on nuisance bubble algae . . . . . . #reeftank #reeftanks #reeftanksofinstagram #saltwateraquarium #saltwatertank #crab #myreef #allmymoneygoestocoral"

4 likes, 0 comments - hyperfocusnyc on June 9, 2022: "Miss Pitho Crab chowin’ down on nuisance bubble algae . . . . . . #reeftank #reeftanks #reeftanksofinstagram #saltwateraquarium...".

www.instagram.com

 

[Clarkjw2002]

Quick Q though -- I've seen a few folks talk about them eating bristle worms, which makes me a bit nervous for my feather dusters. Does anyone know if the pitho is likely to bother or hurt my dusters?

My feathers are multiplying in my biodiversity tank so the pithos don't seem to touch. I have 4 or 5 in there and the tank is a 40 Breeder. Not sure about the "normal" bristle worms that people refer to. They also don't seem to hurt the spaghetti worms, as they are multiplying as well.

They do bury themselves in the deep sand bed regularly, If I had to guess, probably whenever they are not out feeding. Tank is in the basement so I don't pay much attention except when I feed the tank and change the water.