Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Family Enoplometopidae

Enoplometopus occidentalis

(Randall, 1840)

Red Lobster, Hawaiian Lobster

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: South Africa to Hawaiian Islands, north to Taiwan and Japan, and south to Australia.

Size: 4 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky coral reef environments and usually seen at depths between 15 to 300 feet (5 - 90 m).

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade.

All red with some pale white spots.

Safe with anemones and corals, but not with small fishes.

As with most lobsters, they are extremely shy and once in the aquarium prefer to hide in caves during the day, therefore provide some such enclosures. After the lights go out they will search for food, including small fish.

Using long handled tweezers, feed small strips of fish or shrimp flesh once daily.

Taxonomy:

    Kingdom: Animalia

    Phylum: Arthropoda

    Class: Malacostraca

    Order: Decapoda

    Family: Enoplometopidae

    Genus: Enoplometopus

FYI: Undemanding when it comes to water quality. Unless you have a mated pair, it is unsafe to keep more than one in the aquarium.

Must be removed if aquarium will be treated with copper-based medications.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Diet: Carnivore

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Hardiness: Moderate

Alkalinity: 2.5 - 3.0 meq/l

Temperature Range: 68 - 79°F (20 - 26°C)

20 gallons

Lighting: PAR 150

Water Movement: WM 1 - 2

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4

 Enoplometopus occidentalis (Red Lobster, Hawaiian Lobster)
Photo © Bob Fenner
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Polyp Lab