What to do with a prisoner of war?

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Anyway if you have been reading my last threads you'll know what these are

If you haven't been, let me catch you up.

I've been fighting a battle with coral-eating sea spiders for the past few months now and they are doing some considerable damage to my LPS, can never eradicate them from my system.




Caught this one tonight, one of the only ones I've caught alive. And now that I've got it, what should I do with it? Coral-eating sea spiders are a very rare occurrence in the hobby and barely if not completely undocumented in the scientific world. Any experiments I can try? Would love to hear you're suggestions!

 

[boacvh]

I'd see how it reacts to a concentrated dose of Kalk?

 

[Lemons]

Pretty sure under the geneva convention experimenting on POW'S is a no go.

However, im sure they have no problems with trying stuff on a spawn of satan!

Maybe see if any coral dips have an effect on it?

/peroxide???

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Just to clarify I'm trying to keep this thing alive as long as possible (to get the most experiments and info out of them) but if I find more I might try and see what dips are effective

 

[Kasrift]

I'd test different types of in tank remedies first, then move on to dips. For example, I'd try a low dose of Melafix marine. It is a dip and can be used in tank with corals. Figure out the dosing amount per gallon of water and use the same percentage in a smaller container of water and see how it reacts.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Bump

 

[Shon]

 

[Kasrift]

This is actually a pretty good call. You could buy an arrow crab or something and see if it preys on the spider. Again, finding something that works in tank could help you with your issue.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I'd say try to figure out what it eats, how to care for it, etc.; see if you can sex it then catch another of the opposite and see if you can breed them and rear the young.

If they eat something that would make them potentially useful for reefers (such as if they eat hydroids), then start farming them and offering them on the market.

If they eat things we don't want them eating (like coral), then - after figuring out how to rear the young (for science) - try to figure out what would eat them/how to safely get rid of them in a tank.

 

[Kasrift]

I'd say try to figure out what it eats, how to care for it, etc.; see if you can sex it then catch another of the opposite and see if you can breed them and rear the young.

If they eat something that would make them potentially useful for reefers (such as if they eat hydroids), then start farming them and offering them on the market.

If they eat things we don't want them eating (like coral), then - after figuring out how to rear the young (for science) - try to figure out what would eat them/how to safely get rid of them in a tank.

First post mentions it's a coral eating spider and they can't eradicate them, so must be breeding at some level.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

First post mentions it's a coral eating spider and they can't eradicate them, so must be breeding at some level.

True; some sea spiders are known to lay eggs in corals rather than to eat corals, though, so it may helpful to determine if they're actually eating the corals or if they're harming them in another way (such as by laying eggs in them).

Regardless, confirming if they eat corals would be really cool scientifically, and figuring out how to purposefully breed them would be cool regardless of what they eat. (It does seem they've been breeding in the tank, which gives us a good starting point for figuring out how to raise them on purpose.)

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

True; some sea spiders are known to lay eggs in corals rather than to eat corals, though, so it may helpful to determine if they're actually eating the corals or if they're harming them in another way (such as by laying eggs in them).

Regardless, confirming if they eat corals would be really cool scientifically, and figuring out how to purposefully breed them would be cool regardless of what they eat. (It does seem they've been breeding in the tank, which gives us a good starting point for figuring out how to raise them on purpose.)

I do remember the very first individuals seemed to be carrying eggs so that's where I assume the rest came from, I haven't seen any other egg carrying individual since. If I can find another individual I'll add it to the same enclosure

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

If I can find another individual I'll add it to the same enclosure

This reminded me - if you get another that's the same sex, then you could see if they're territorial or aggressive to each other/how they interact generally.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

This reminded me - if you get another that's the same sex, then you could see if they're territorial or aggressive to each other/how they interact generally.

If they are thar would be incredibly useful information, that way I would know if I'd only find one per coral.


Some other things I want to find out is:


Can they reproduce asexually.

Will they eat frozen food

Will they eat duncans

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

I'll hopefully be picking up a small airstone to oxygenate the water

 

[TCseh]

If you are truly wanting to experiment with these spiders but you are having a hard time finding them alive, what about setting up a separate tank? About 5-20gal and put a rock that has some of the spiders in that small tank and they will breed in there and you can have an easier time finding them and pulling them out.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

If you are truly wanting to experiment with these spiders but you are having a hard time finding them alive, what about setting up a separate tank? About 5-20gal and put a rock that has some of the spiders in that small tank and they will breed in there and you can have an easier time finding them and pulling them out.

There isn't really a rock with them as they soley live and feed on corals


They are also extremely small so I've been keeping this one in a small plastic container

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Experiment #1: adding an individual of the same species. Potentially of opposite gender due to size difference

I'll let you know how this goes

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Experiment #1: adding an individual of the same species. Potentially of opposite gender due to size difference

I'll let you know how this goes

Update: they're both still alive, might get a cheap frag from my LFS for a food source

 

[AustinBabler]

Pretty sure under the geneva convention experimenting on POW'S is a no go.

However, im sure they have no problems with trying stuff on a spawn of satan!

Maybe see if any coral dips have an effect on it?

/peroxide???

It’s not a war crime the first time haha