Goose Barnacle (Lepas anserifera) – Complete Care Guide

General Information

The Goose Barnacle, scientifically known as Lepas anserifera, is a fascinating marine crustacean that often captures the curiosity of aquarists and marine enthusiasts. These barnacles are pelagic, meaning they live attached to floating objects like driftwood, ship hulls, or even marine debris. Their unique appearance, with long stalks (called peduncles) and a cluster of plates forming a shell-like structure, makes them an intriguing addition to specialized marine aquariums.

While not commonly kept in home aquariums, their presence can add a touch of the open ocean to a marine setup. They are filter feeders, relying on their feathery cirri to capture plankton and organic particles from the water column. Their ability to thrive in nutrient-rich waters makes them an interesting species for aquarists who enjoy replicating unique marine ecosystems.

Care

Caring for Goose Barnacles requires a specialized setup. They thrive in aquariums with strong water flow to mimic their natural environment and ensure a steady supply of planktonic food. Since they are sessile organisms, they need to be attached to a stable surface, such as a piece of live rock or a synthetic substrate. Maintaining high water quality and stable parameters is crucial for their survival.

Goose Barnacles are best suited for advanced aquarists due to their specific dietary and environmental needs. They are not ideal for community tanks with active fish or invertebrates that may disturb them.

Diet and Feeding

Goose Barnacles are filter feeders, relying on a diet of plankton and suspended organic particles. In captivity, they can be fed with liquid plankton supplements, rotifers, or finely powdered coral foods. Frequent feeding is necessary to ensure they receive adequate nutrition, as they cannot store food reserves.

Feeding should be done multiple times a day, especially in systems without a natural plankton population. Using a turkey baster or similar tool can help direct food towards their cirri, ensuring they can capture it efficiently.

Behavior and Compatibility

As sessile organisms, Goose Barnacles are entirely peaceful and pose no threat to other tank inhabitants. However, their delicate nature makes them vulnerable to damage from active or aggressive tank mates. They are best kept in species-specific setups or with other non-mobile invertebrates that share similar environmental requirements.

Their behavior is limited to the rhythmic movement of their cirri as they filter-feed. This mesmerizing action can be a unique and calming feature in a marine aquarium.

Health and Common Issues

Goose Barnacles are sensitive to changes in water quality and require stable conditions to thrive. Poor water flow, inadequate feeding, or sudden parameter shifts can lead to stress and eventual mortality. Regular monitoring of water parameters and consistent feeding are essential for their health.

When introducing Goose Barnacles to an aquarium, ensure they are securely attached to a substrate to prevent them from being dislodged by water currents or tank inhabitants. Observing their feeding behavior can also help identify potential issues; if they are not extending their cirri, it may indicate stress or insufficient food availability.

Habitat

In the wild, Lepas anserifera is found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, often attached to floating objects. They inhabit nutrient-rich waters where plankton is abundant, relying on ocean currents to bring food to their stationary position. Replicating these conditions in captivity involves providing strong water flow and a consistent source of planktonic food.

Common name: Goose Barnacle