If you’re an animal lover, you’ve probably taken pity on live lobsters that you see in restaurants and grocery stores. It’s hard not to feel sad when you observe their cramped conditions and tied-up claws, not to mention that they are heading for the pot. But, before giving in to your compassionate nature, you must be aware that rehoming lobsters isn’t straightforward. Still, if you want to be the best pet parent to these cute crustaceans, here are eight crucial considerations before getting a pet lobster.
1. Pet Lobsters Aren’t Ideal for Beginners
Pet lobsters aren’t the ideal choice for first-time aquarium owners. It’s not that they are difficult to care for, but getting their environment right is challenging if you are unfamiliar with fishkeeping. That said, if you are passionate about lobsters and are prepared to invest time into learning about them, there is no reason why you won’t be successful.
To better understand a lobster’s care needs, talk to fishkeeping experts in your area or visit a local aquarium for advice. You must also bear in mind that a lobster setup can be expensive. To keep them at home, you must invest in specialist equipment, such as a large tank and water chillers.
2. Lobsters Have Complex Care Needs
The next thing you must consider about keeping a pet lobster is their complex care needs. Lobsters need a cold saltwater aquarium with a temperature between 50 – 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold saltwater fish tanks are the least common type, so there is less information about them, and it’s more challenging to find the equipment. You should also be aware that tank coolers are more expensive than heaters, so running a lobster tank costs more than your average aquarium.
In addition to tank coolers, you also need a high-quality filtration system, and you must regularly monitor tank parameters. This includes checking the water temperature, pH, and salinity several times weekly, as well as testing the aquarium water for pollutants. You must also regularly clean and maintain the tank to ensure your lobsters have a pristine environment.
3. Pet Lobsters Need Lots of Space
Pet lobsters need lots of space because they grow between five and 24 inches long, depending on the species. You need a minimum 50-gallon tank for each lobster, and they will fight if there isn’t enough space. Lobsters are incredibly territorial and may even eat other lobsters in cramped conditions. This is why we see restaurant and grocery store ones with bands around their claws. Some keepers separate fighting lobsters with a metal mesh screen in their tanks. Interestingly, lobsters aren’t cannibalistic in the wild.
4. Lobsters Have a Long Lifespan
Another vital thing to consider about lobsters is they have a long lifespan. Wild lobsters can live for over 100 years, and captive ones can live for over 40. It’s hard to tell the exact age of a lobster, but potentially, you may have it for many years if you want one as a pet. Furthermore, lobsters are strictly regulated in some states, so you must check your local laws about ownership.
5. Lobsters Need a Varied Diet
Lobsters are opportunistic omnivores and need a varied diet of sea creatures, shellfish, algae wafers, and lobster pellets. Lobsters benefit from a calcium supplement to help with shell growth, and you must defrost frozen food before feeding it. Lobsters usually feed at night but may come out during the day when they feel comfortable with their surroundings. They are also messy feeders and produce a lot of waste. You should also be aware that many crustaceans, including lobsters, are sensitive to copper, so don’t use copper-based medicine in your tank.
6. Pet Lobsters Need Environmental Enrichment
Pet lobsters need mental stimulation and environmental enrichment to thrive in captivity. You must provide them with caves because they like to hide in them to protect themselves while molting. They also need a coarse aquarium substrate, around six inches deep, because they love to dig and burrow. Lobsters are hefty, active creatures and will effortlessly rearrange the tank, so you must anchor rocks, aquarium plants, and decor. Lobsters also like to roam, so you should provide lots of open space on the tank floor.
7. Lobsters May Eat Their Tank Mates
Lobsters are solitary creatures in the wild and don’t enjoy living with other lobsters or tankmates. Ideally, you should keep a lobster alone because they will prey on fish and crustaceans. The list of lobster tank mates is tiny, and if you want to keep them with other creatures, you must have a large tank with lots of hiding places. Small, quick-moving top-dwellers, such as guppies and tetras, are less likely to become a meal for lobsters.
8. There Are Many Lobster Species
There are many lobster species, and not all adapt to home aquariums. Reef lobsters are common in tropical tanks – but these are more similar to large crayfish than lobsters. Crayfish aquariums have different care needs than coldwater lobster tanks.
The most common coldwater pet lobsters include:
- Debelius Lobster
- Feather Star Squat Lobster
- Red Lobster
- Spiny Lobster
9. Keeping a Grocery Store Lobster Is Challenging
One of the problems with buying a grocery store lobster is that, often, you may not be able to tell the species – grocery store lobsters are usually coldwater types. Another risk when taking home a lobster from a grocery store is that they are typically in poor condition. Grocery store lobsters may be half-starved and incredibly stressed, and it may be difficult to revive them.
For the best chances of keeping a grocery store lobster at home, avoid choosing one with signs of illness, which include:
- A dull color
- Missing limbs
- Missing antenna
- Disfigurement
- Erratic movement and behavior
- Lesions, spots, or fungus on its body
