How to Keep Lobsters in a Saltwater Aquarium

Lobsters are interesting invertebrates to keep in a marine aquarium. The smaller reef-dwelling lobsters, such as the Debelius' or purple reef lobster is a peaceful little crustacean which does not grow much beyond five inches in length. The purple reef lobster can be housed with a number of coral fish species, including wrasse, the larger angelfish species and batfish. Lobsters require a cave or similar shelter in which to rest and molt their exoskeleton as required. Reef lobsters are territorial and only one per tank should be housed, unless the aquarist is able to obtain a mated pair.

Things You'll Need

  • 60-gallon aquarium and stand
  • 5-gallon plastic bucket
  • Aragonite from an aquarium dealer
  • Beach rocks
  • Liquid chlorine remover
  • Hydrometer
  • 17 pounds of synthetic aquarium sea salt
  • Hang-on aquarium filter
  • Bio Balls
  • Nylon pouch containing activated carbon
  • Filter floss
  • Aquarium heater
  • Bottle of beneficial bacteria
  • Plastic peg
  • Frozen or recently thawed sea foods
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place your aquarium stand on a level piece of floor and position the aquarium on the stand. Ensure that the aquarium is not standing in a constant draft and position it away from windows that are exposed to full sunlight, as direct sunlight encourages the growth of nuisance algae.

    • 2

      Fill a plastic 5-gallon bucket halfway with aragonite gravel and fill the bucket with tap water. Use a plastic stick to stir the gravel and carefully pour out the dirty water. Repeat until all dust and debris has been rinsed from the aragonite.

    • 3

      Cover the floor of the aquarium with the cleaned aragonite. Slope the gravel from the rear of the tank, to the front. This allows detritus to work its way toward the front glass pane, where it can be more easily noticed and removed.

    • 4

      Add a number of beach rocks to the aquarium. Use some to build a cave near the rear of the aquarium.

    • 5

      Use a garden hose to slowly fill the aquarium. Place the end of the hose pipe against the aquarium glass, so as not to disturb the aragonite.

    • 6

      Add a liquid chlorine remover, as per instructions, to the water.

    • 7

      Add 17 pounds of synthetic aquarium sea salt to the water to give a specific gravity reading of 1.025. Use a hydrometer to check the reading.

    • 8

      Remove the lid panel from a hang-on filter and place Bio Balls into the biological filter section. Lobsters are messy feeders and their tank must be well-filtered. Beneficial bacteria, which colonizes the bio balls, will remove toxins from the water.

    • 9

      Place a pre-rinsed nylon pouch of activated carbon into the chemical filter section of the hang-on filter. Replace the nylon pouch on a monthly basis.

    • 10

      Fill the mechanical filter section of the hang-on with filter floss. This material will physically trap large pieces of dirt and uneaten food and must be rinsed on a weekly basis and replaced once it can no longer be adequately cleaned.

    • 11

      Set an aquarium heater to 78 degrees Fahrenheit and place it in the aquarium.

    • 12

      Plug in the hang on-filter and heater and turn them on.

    • 13

      Add a strain of beneficial bacteria to the water to mature the system. Commercial products are available from your aquatic dealer.

    • 14

      Allow the water to circulate and heat for at least 24 hours.

    • 15

      Open the plastic bag in which your lobster arrives and secure it to the rim of the aquarium, using a plastic peg.

    • 16

      Add a small amount of aquarium water to the plastic bag every 10 minutes to acclimatize the lobster to your water parameters.

    • 17

      Carefully remove your lobster and place it into the aquarium. Hold it gently around its mid-section and place it just below the water surface.

    • 18

      Feed the lobster tiny pieces of fresh or recently thawed sea foods, such as calamari, line fish or mussel meal. Sea foods are rich in iodine, which the lobster requires, particularly during the periods it sheds its' old exoskeleton.