Got it! I am now a proud owner of a Marine Live Dive endorsement, which frees us up in many ways from wholesaler selection. I got it Friday, and went out yesterday for a short time, but I got a few different things:

1 x sponge crab (Dromiidae sp.)- orange with green sponge...I know I need pics....$5 before pics, $15 after (not sure when I will get one of these again. Cool little guy, the sponge makes him almost nickel size, but he is smaller than a dime.
1 x tube anemone (Arachnanthus nocturnus - thanks yardboy)- not reef safe, not photosyntheitc, should be fed meaty foods...$9 before pic, $20 after
2x white telesto - gorgonian, reef safe, passive like most gorgs and NOT photosynthetic. $5 before pic $12 after (regular availability, but only collected 2 for now).
large thin stripe hermit - also what I call a "thin leg" often, Clibanarius vittatus, in a Junonia shell. Very cool looking critter, looks exactly like the guy I have a pic for somewhere....Pet size animal, should not be used as a cleaner, it is large (3 inches), and would likely be more trouble than help. Price is high on this guy because of the shipping weight, so $9 (because we have flat rate shipping etc...)

anyway, just a few little things i have this week if you have an order going out anyway.

Excellent John, congratulations again.

thanks scott! I also got the boat to work in time to see a meteor shower last night, so all and all a good weekend.

If I come to FL, can I go diving with you?

what happens to the sponge with the crab molts?

summer is the time for a thing like that. you have to agree to be spun in a circle 3 times so you can't retrace your steps.



critters that use camo are pretty funny about it. They will re-attach, or change the thing they are wearing after the molt, or they might just change it for no reason. Crabs are that way, behavior isn't 100% predictable. It may end up wearing a coral or something. I will probably pick up some decorators next week, and some will have algae some sponge, some tunicate etc... but the crab I am talking about here has a preference for sponges, so it is likely to continue wearing it.

dam n john! just ordred!? Crab requires overnight shipping? what about the gorgs?

i am just going to say they all need overnight. Crab is probably dependent on the sponge's survival, so Express, gorg and anemone - why risk it....Maybe wait until Monday if you are toying with the idea of overnight. I will be taking a trip, and can find you something hopefully to defray shipping.

tell you what - go ahead and ship my order and i'll do another one after the holiday break. I'm leaving tue. for the South and won't be around to make sure everything gets in the tank.

No problem.

probably would be a nice change of pace for you. do you dive in california? heard the water was cold.

Yep, 5-7mil wetsuit, hood, gloves. Water temp is 58 degrees.

ouch. I have stories I tell people about that time I went diving in cold water. That one time. My cousin is a nut job too, ( ) he is one of those polar bear bathers, or something like that. They jump in the water off of Rockaway beach every February.

so you know you are going to have to share a story now....

ever dive the kelp forest? It is on my bucket list. Diving with a seal would also be a good story. Never see any seals here, ever. Closest thing was an otter family that lives near when of the docks on Lake Talquin.