Pet lobster ?

[CephalopodLover]

I was wondering if you could keep a lobster from a grocery store?
How would you keep it ? What size tank would you need ? What would you feed it? Any other different things you would need?
Thanks!

[Fishguy2727]

Biggest issue is a chiller, they need it down in the upper 50s or so.

At least a 75, if all goes will you may need an upgrade to a 180 or so.

Or you could get a reef lobster. Bright colors, ~$20, stays around 6".

[CephalopodLover]

Would this one work ?
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Could I just take water from the ocean?

[AABatteries]

You would need probably a 1/10 or 1/8 hp chiller. Also, DO NOT take water from the ocean. There is a high chance it will be polluted. RO water is the way to go.

[Fishguy2727]

RO/DI with high quality salt is generally the best way to get good water.

If you read the specifications on that unit you can see that the max tank size is 50 gallons and even then it is only dropping the temp 10F.

[CephalopodLover]

RO water is the way to go.
Whats that ?

[Halelorf]

Whats that ?

RO = Reverse Osmosis

RO/DI = Reverse Osmosis / Deionized

[Fishguy2727]

It is a way of cleaning tap water. It removes all kinds of things that are fine to drink but not good for the long term health of many aquarium inhabitants. Marine organisms, especially invertebrates, are even more sensitive.

[CephalopodLover]

So what kind of water should I use ?

[AABatteries]

RO or RO/DI. Forgot you need to chill the tank that much. You might need a 1/6 or 1/4 then.

[CephalopodLover]

So a RO or RO/DI will filter the water but do I use water from the sink and how do I make it salt water ?
Thank for the help! I don't know that much about salt water tanks.

[Fishguy2727]

The RO/DI unit hooks up to the house's water supply. You mix salt in with the RO/DI water.

[lobsternoob]

I kept a few for a while in a tank in my garage, was more of a giant plastic tub than a tank. But yes the chiller is the biggest issue, water quality wise they seem pretty adaptable. I had a strange rig a friend built for me out of refrigerator parts from my old mini bar fridge. dang thing put out a lot of heat so routing the water was a pain cause it had to be kept well away from the tank. but kept the water cool enough.

[CephalopodLover]

Thanks for all the help so far! I'm going to add up what everything is going to cost and start saving. I have a 55 gallon tank already but I was thinking about maybe getting a 75 if I have the money. I also have a power filter could I use that or should I buy a different type of filter ?

[labnjab]

I would use live rock and a few powerheads for the filter, 1-1.5 lbs per gallon. Power filters and any man made filter always lead to problems down the road, but live rock is the best filter money can buy IMO

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Liverock won't help in a tank like this lab, we are talking about a temperate tank, liverock is a tropical tank product.

While it is possible to keep them there are some issues you need to consider, and the biggest one is the legal issue. In parts of this country, you may need a license to keep them. The other thing is feeding them. You need to be sure to study their dietary needs.

Really, you need to go for something easier for your first SW tank. Temperate tanks are not beginner tanks. They have their own special challenges and issues. You need to learn about tropical SW tanks and learn to care for one of those before you venture into temperate tanks. Also, as I recall, you don't have room for the size tank you really need. As was stated earlier, Northern Atlantic Lobsters grow very large and will require a very large tank. A standard footprint tank is not going to be sufficient for them. I don't want to sound negative here, but you are not ready for a temperate tank. Go ahead and research and try a tropical marine tank, I think you will find them much more enjoyable.

[bushwhacker]

i'm afraid my pet lobster wouldnt last ver long, soon as my wife saw him in the tank, he'd be in a pot of boiling water

[unleashed]

Liverock won't help in a tank like this lab, we are talking about a temperate tank, liverock is a tropical tank product.

While it is possible to keep them there are some issues you need to consider, and the biggest one is the legal issue. In parts of this country, you may need a license to keep them. The other thing is feeding them. You need to be sure to study their dietary needs.

Really, you need to go for something easier for your first SW tank. Temperate tanks are not beginner tanks. They have their own special challenges and issues. You need to learn about tropical SW tanks and learn to care for one of those before you venture into temperate tanks. Also, as I recall, you don't have room for the size tank you really need. As was stated earlier, Northern Atlantic Lobsters grow very large and will require a very large tank. A standard footprint tank is not going to be sufficient for them. I don't want to sound negative here, but you are not ready for a temperate tank. Go ahead and research and try a tropical marine tank, I think you will find them much more enjoyable.

Ditto with GB.

However, the only part I don't agree with is the first part about live rock. While 'tropical' live rock won't be suitable, a form of LR would be fundamentally vital for success

[rageybug]

If you do get the lobster, let me know when it hits about 5 pounds. I'll bring the butter....

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

If you do get the lobster, let me know when it hits about 5 pounds. I'll bring the butter....

LOL Ditto!!!

Unleashed, I agree with you on the LR thing, you just won't find that kind of LR in your local stores.

[unleashed]

However, you could buy tropical LR and place it into a temperate tank. The die-off will start a cycle. The bacteria on the rock should be fine though

[Fishguy2727]

The bacteria would be about all that would make it and completely undo the 'live' part that you pay for.

[MrJim]

Just wonderin' what you'd feed somethin' like that?

[Fishguy2727]

I would feed New Life Spectrum.

Anyone know what the ones being held to be eaten are fed? (if anything)

[unleashed]

nearly all species of lobster from across the globe are scavengers with opportunistic tendencies.

I would personally feed dead fish frames, half shell mussels and cracked open live sea urchin if possible

[AABatteries]

I agree with GB. Why not just a do a reef tank? Maybe not reef, but just FOWLR. I'm wondering why it has to be lobster?

[Fishguy2727]

And remember, there are a couple species of amazingly colored, small reef lobsters that are much easier to deal with.

[lobsternoob]

nearly all species of lobster from across the globe are scavengers with opportunistic tendencies.

I would personally feed dead fish frames, half shell mussels and cracked open live sea urchin if possible

Boom! hit the nail on the head, honestly theyll eat just about anything though.

Most of them you'll see in stores, don't get fed, and they waste away and start to turn not so tasty after just a few weeks in a tank.

[rageybug]

The easiest and cheapest way to have a lobster experience would be a FW tank with some crayfish from your local creek. I know, it's not the same as a real live lobster but they are very similar and the crayfish won't need a giant tank to keep them happy.

[MrJim]

Boom! hit the nail on the head, honestly theyll eat just about anything though.

Most of them you'll see in stores, don't get fed, and they waste away and start to turn not so tasty after just a few weeks in a tank.

eat anything~maybe even table scraps:hmm3grin2orange:

[rageybug]

Just wonderin' what you'd feed somethin' like that?



I remember a friend from high school that had a pet lobster. He fed it live goldfish. The lobster would just sit perfectly still on top of a rock with his claws wide open waiting for hours for the goldfish to swim close enough to grab.

[CephalopodLover]

Would this work???
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[rageybug]

For that price you can't go wrong, it is worth a shot. If it does not work, re-sell the chiller and melt some butter!

[CephalopodLover]

Would this be a good one?

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