critters from cruise???

[mkengr45]

I am going on another cruise next sunday, and was curious how safe it would be for me to bring back some sand/rubble/critters from the places I will be visiting. I am not asking about legal safety, I am asking about how safe it would be for my tank to bring back things. I was thinking like a milk jug full of sand/rubble(or whatever I get my hands on) from Grand Caymen or cozumel or key west. On my last cruise I smuggled back a serpent star I found in cozumel and it has been the coolest souvenir because it has a little story behind it. I am just doing snorkeling and am paranoid of contaminants. I remember seeing a motherload of cool corals last time. In jamaica I saw entire peir pillars covered in clusters of sun corals, watermelon sized clusters, it was friggin awesome. Let me know if you think I could contaminate my tank, and what good things could I possibly get from bringing back some sand/rubble from the ocean floor around the reefs. I know somebody will start preaching about "breaking the law" and blah blah blah, save your breath and dont get your panties ina bundle, I'm not talking about destroying any reefs. Thanks

Randy

[RobertG]

I see your typing but all I read is Blah Blah Blah, too funny.

Good Luck!!

[matt]

It's likely you'd have a lot of die off in any sand you brought back, but I guess if you could keep it in a bucket with a lot of water and an airstone it would do okay. There's always the possibility that you'd introduce something into your tank that you wouldn't want, but I honestly have no idea how big a risk it would be.

[Tim Marvin]

Lots of our livestock comes from the carribean anyway, so go for it......By the way did anyone mention how nice Mexican prisons are in the summer? LMAO.....Just kiddding, I saw some awesome blue zoo's in Cozumel that eventually I will probably get some to bring back. The pools are saltwater on some of those cruises right? I think if it is pump straight out of the ocean you could probably do a couple water changes per day for your jug! Good luck, and let us know what you get!

[wkopplin]

I accidentally brought back some shaving brush plants that somehow found their way into a water bottle that was mistakenly filled up with saltwater on the day I left. I have no idea how that happened.

[BA]

ya, a starfish climbed it's way into my bottle too in Jamaica, i guess the Jamaican starfish are pretty smart, to bring water and all....

[mkengr45]

Tim, the pools on every cruise I have been on were all saltwater. The water is pretty darn cold so I beleive they probably pump it in and out constantly. Also, where did you see zoos at. I always have looked for them but have not seen a single zoo or shroom, what the deal. Do I need to be in deeper water? Shallow water? I see lots of anenomes and hard corals and some softies like leathers, but never a single shroom or zoo. What are some tips for coming across these sort of corals.

BA, I agree the starfish are pretty clever. I am hoping to come across a few genious level starfish and some super smart zoos. I knew I couldnt be the only person on here that had witnessed such smart critters.

I go snorkeling and all of a sudden I get a bad case of the sticky fingers when I see all the cool things. The neat stuff always wants to stick to my hands and come home with me. I am too nice a guy to say no.

Randy

[Instar]

My healthiest creatures have been the ones I collected myself. I agree with Tim, it all comes from the ocean and what would make anyone think its not the same stuff as the dealers have already sold to you? A rock or piece of something from the ocean is a rock or piece of thing from the ocean no matter who collects it and how it just happens to get home to my tank. I know you will do less damage and actually will do some good in the area you collect cause you're in it for education and pleasure and don't need to collect a boat-load in a few hours from one spot. Your small and very selective collection of something actually prunes that area and makes it grow faster. Happy fishing! I hope you find those zoos!!!

[Brett Wilson]

Now I REALLY want to go snorkling.

[mkengr45]

TurboBrett, man I can hardly contain myself. It is just so cool to be able to just hop in the water and take a peek below you and see so many corals and fish. Last time I was in Caymen islands i jump off the boat and once I put my mask on and looked under water I looked under the boat and their must have been 60 huge purple tangs picking at the algae off the bottom of the boat. I looked down and saw some brain corals the size of a giant friggin pumpkin. Motherloads of cool fish and even more corals. The first time I went with a group with a guide so I was a bit paranoid to go pick stuff up off the reef, but now I just go with my girl and we get a cab and go to our own spot and see the same stuff except with no supervision (fun spoilers/narcs). I am bringing a canon G5 camera with the under water case so hopefully I will have some neat pics. Also hope to show you all what I manage to bring back.

Randy

[Sunhutch]

I accidentally brought back some shaving brush plants that somehow found their way into a water bottle that was mistakenly filled up with saltwater on the day I left. I have no idea how that happened.


ya, a starfish climbed it's way into my bottle too in Jamaica, i guess the Jamaican starfish are pretty smart, to bring water and all....

LMAO. You guys are too funny. :-D

[DeAngelove]

Randy -
I am seriously envious of you as well... and some people I know wonder *why* I've always wanted to take a cruise! If they only knew. 8) Good luck and I'm sure you will be fortunate enough to stumble upon some clever critters! :D

DAB

[Brett Wilson]

This is killing me. I want to go!

Anyone ever try and bring anything through an airport? or ship it back?

[Ram_Puppy]

my sister in law brought her goldfish from Johnston Atoll (just off hawaii 300 miles or so south south west) back in a tupper ware with a battery operated air pump. He was about the size of a soft ball. The flew from the atoll to hawaii, stayed overnight and did his water changes in the hotel, then flew to california, water change in airport bathroom. :) California to San Antonio. He lived for another 6 happy years.

[alexwolf]

I was thinking that when I go to California, if I get anything I will overnight it to someone in town the day before I leave. May not be the cheapest, but seems to be a pretty good way.

[don-n-sa]

all the critters that I collected at the corpus trip are doing great and no ill effects on tankmates.

blennies doing great, I kept one BA got the rest
peppermint shrimp all doing well exept the ones who ended up as food for my triggger, puffer and mantis :twisted: ( the rest are in my fuge and 3 went to Blake )

[BA]

ya the seagentmajors and the blennies arew doing fine...besides being a lil roughed up by the MONSTER damsel i got from Tim...lol

[don-n-sa]

:twisted: :twisted: those Domino's are evil, I say evil!!!! :twisted:

[BA]

ya but now they all swim together..

[Instar]

They swim together because they are afraid of that 2 foot shark! LoL

[BA]

lol, he's not in there yet...actually i'm more afraid that the 13inch lionfish will chase them than the shark

[GaryP]

There is a Sargenat Major in a restaurant saltwater tank here in SA. The owner is not a real hobbyist. He can't understand why his pepermint shrimp keep disappearing. Duh! Ask Ed about sargeant majors.

Gary

[StephenA]

Watch the AC in the room, I collected some things and about froze them to death with the AC! Cold room + little amount of water = dead sea critters

[OrionN]

The last time I went on a cruise, I went to Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. I collected something from each place. I got large pieces of rubble from Key West and Grand Cayman. I got a huge Queen Conch shell from the beach at Cozumel. This is a shell that is in the water for a long time but reasonably intact. It is very porous and makes an excellent addition to my aquascape. I got a colony of Green M. digitata (from my tank) growing on it at this time. My Yellow tail damsel pair uses it as a home and is spawning in there.
I got a bucket of water in my room and have a small air pump to keep it aerated for the week. Thus I only have these LR out of the water for about 2 hrs from the ship to home.
The next time I am going on a cruise, I will do the same thing. I did not go for volume, but got interesting pieces of ruble and rock.
Minh

[Tim Marvin]

The zoos were actually only in the water when the waves crashed in on them. More like a tide pool on the rocks at the Chaunkenab park (sp) in Cozumel.