Curve50880
New member
So far I have:
2 hermits
7 Nassarius
2 Astraea snails
3 Margarita snails
1 emerald
Do you think I need more?
2 hermits
7 Nassarius
2 Astraea snails
3 Margarita snails
1 emerald
Do you think I need more?
20 gallon cleanup crew
- Thread starter Curve50880
- Start date
preculafreak06
New member
You need more hermits!Imo.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
I say you need less hermits (by 2) and more ceriths. I'd have about 4 or 5 of ceriths, nassarius, and astrea's.
Margarita snails are not tropical snails. They come from cooler waters and will usually die after very long. They're in cooler water for about 3 months or so of the year, so they may live about that long. Sucks though because they're really good cleaners.
The hermits...i'd take them out because for one, they arent nearly as good at cleaning as all my snails are, and for another they kill the snails for their shells. Even if you put in extra shells, you're gonna have problems w/them killing the snails eventually. I've had about 4 or 5 different hermits and each one has ended up w/a cerith shell even though i have tons of extra shells.
Margarita snails are not tropical snails. They come from cooler waters and will usually die after very long. They're in cooler water for about 3 months or so of the year, so they may live about that long. Sucks though because they're really good cleaners.
The hermits...i'd take them out because for one, they arent nearly as good at cleaning as all my snails are, and for another they kill the snails for their shells. Even if you put in extra shells, you're gonna have problems w/them killing the snails eventually. I've had about 4 or 5 different hermits and each one has ended up w/a cerith shell even though i have tons of extra shells.
Curve50880
New member
What about a shrimp? Which type are the most beneficial?
sir_dudeguy
Active member
well shrimp arent really part of the cleanup crew. They just kinda scavenge for food. Actually they'll just eat whatever you feed your fish, so i guess in a way you could consider them part of the cleanup crew, in that they look for loose food and pick it up.
But they're mostly just for looks. Some will have other benefits as well, like cleaners will clean your fish, peppermints will eat aptasias....but then a lot of the others like coral banded shrimp will just sit there and look like a bad @$$
But they're mostly just for looks. Some will have other benefits as well, like cleaners will clean your fish, peppermints will eat aptasias....but then a lot of the others like coral banded shrimp will just sit there and look like a bad @$$
Curve50880
New member
bad *** shrimp huh? lol can two different kinds of shrimp live in the same tank without any problems?
i have 2 cleaner shrimp and 1 peppermint in my 20gal tall. the cleaners eat EVERYTHING the fish don't get, and put up a fight against the fish for their food. the peppermint keeps the aptasia down and scours the rockwork for leftovers.
i feed really heavy and have primo params. i think a lot of thanks goes to the shrimps...and the nassarius, those crazy little piggies.
i have a lot of rockwork, 38lbs, in my tank so it gives the cleaners and peppermint a little buffer space.
i feed really heavy and have primo params. i think a lot of thanks goes to the shrimps...and the nassarius, those crazy little piggies.
i have a lot of rockwork, 38lbs, in my tank so it gives the cleaners and peppermint a little buffer space.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
If you have enough space, then i think more than one type of shrimp would be ok if you dont get any of the more aggressive ones. In a 20, i would only try a cleaner and a peppermint if you wanted more than one.
Curve50880
New member
What about blood red fire shrimp? They are pretty neat looking. How do you think they will do with a peppermint?
sir_dudeguy
Active member
curve, not sure on the fire shrimp. I've heard pretty much half and half for them as far as good and bad...
jamynsdad, how big are the 2 shrimp you have? Just curious is all.
jamynsdad, how big are the 2 shrimp you have? Just curious is all.
mangus7175
New member
I have 7 hermits, 1 turbo snail, 2 nassarius, 1 peppermint shrimp, and 1 skunk cleaner....all doing a good job cleaning my 20G AGA. Planning to get more snails to clean my sand bed maybe more nassarius'.
