Voigtmann's Reef Lobster

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 4"
• Diet: Omnivore   • Aquarium Level: Substrate & Rocks   • Minimum Tank Size: 12 gallons
 • Reef Compatible: Yes   • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
• Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine, Trace Elements   • Coloration: Red, Orange, White
• Origin: Indo-Pacific, Caribbean, Tropical Atlantic Ocean • Family: Enoplometopidae   • Species: Lobsters

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Voigtmann's Reef Lobster (Enoplometopus voigtmanni) is brightly colored reef lobster with a unique pattern of stripes, spots and rings. It brilliant appearance and ability to scavenge excess foodstuffs from the substrate and live rock make it a popular species with marine hobbyists keeping both reef and FOWLR aquariums. Voigtmann's Reef Lobster is a relatively small with a maximum length of 4 inches, with a generally peaceful disposition.

Their small size and peaceful temperament make them well suited for reef aquariums that may house smaller fish species and contain a variety of cleaner inverts. However, it should be noted that like all scavengers the Voigtmann's Reef Lobster will prey on other tank mates if they are unable to scavenge enough food to survive.

The more peaceful reef lobsters can be distinguished from their larger clawed lobster cousins by the fact that they have full chelae (claws) only on the first pair of pereiopods, the second and third pairs being only subchelate. Clawed lobsters have full claws on the first three pereiopods.

Reef lobsters need to be provided plenty of rocky caves and crevices in which they can escape the bright aquarium lighting and to provide them a place to retreat to when they feel threatened.

An ideal aquarium environment should have a thick substrate bed to allow the reef lobster to burrow, along with live rock for hiding and in which to hunt. After molting, the Voigtmann's Reef Lobster will need a secure hiding place, such as its burrowed cave, while it waits for its new exoskeleton to harden.

The Voigtmann's Reef Lobster is peaceful and will ignore sleeping healthy fish within the aquarium. Caution must be taken when incorporating into a reef aquarium, as it may harm extremely small fish or invertebrates. All Reef Lobsters are very territorial and aggressive towards each other, so only one specimen, or a mated pair should be kept in aquariums of 5 feet in length or less.

Hobbyists with larger aquariums that are 6 to 8 feet in length or larger can successfully keep multiple reef lobsters assuming they also have plenty of live rock to create multiple territories within the tank. Like most Invertebrates Voigtmann's Reef Lobster (Enoplometopus voigtmanni) is sensitive to high levels of copper in the water from copper-based medications.

While Voigtmann's Reef Lobsters prefer to scavenge and hunt for food at night, they will overtime adjust to aquarium life and come out more during lights on hours and during feeding times. Most of their diet will consist of food it scavenges, but supplementing with iodine-rich foods will help ensure proper molting.

Proper calcium & iodine levels in the water will aid this species with proper molting and exoskeleton development. Supplemental feeding via sinking shrimp pellets or similar meaty items will ensure that the lobster is well fed and lesson the chance that they will prey on smaller snails, ornamental shrimp or small fish species.