NaClH2ODave
New member
After changing out an 18 month aquarium, and realizing how much junk was in the sand, is there really a need for hermit crabs and snails in a DT?
Are CUC's Really Needed?
- Thread starter NaClH2ODave
- Start date
ohioreef71
New member
I think so. My hermits make sure all uneaten food is gone. I also know I had fish disappear under a rock to never be seen again. I'm sure the cuc did their job. I also like snails for algae control. One thing I will never get again are shrimp, they seem to be food hogs and I had a cleaner shrimp that would go after my pods and even snails and I never saw him clean a fish once.
speaking of shrimp here I have a cleaner shrimp in my tank and he is a food hog and he does clean my fish though but my real question is do they ever become predatory. I have had a blue spot slug go missing and a few small fish so curious to that, is it possible he is taking them out. The other fish in the tank I know cant be eating the little fish that went missing or the slug.
Dexters Reef
New member
I reccomend nassarius snails to keep the sandbed stirred. And occasional vaccuming
Khemul
New member
Need is such a tricky word.
No, you don't need a CUC. It is there to make things easier and for your enjoyment.
The key with CUC is figuring out what jobs need to be done and in what frequency. A lot of setups have gaps in their CUC work-load, because the tank is simply lacking a creature that does the specific job needed.
No, you don't need a CUC. It is there to make things easier and for your enjoyment.
The key with CUC is figuring out what jobs need to be done and in what frequency. A lot of setups have gaps in their CUC work-load, because the tank is simply lacking a creature that does the specific job needed.
ohioreef71
New member
I have seen my old cleaner shrimp kill smaller peppermint shrimp and eat stomatellas and snails I think he could of killed your slug.
d2mini
Premium Member
I think the key is diversity.
I have blue leg hermits, nassarius snails, turbo snails, cerith snails, nerite snails, limpets, serpent stars, brittle stars, conical spine stars, sea cucumbers, peppermint shrimp and red mithrax crabs. Yes, they all feed on leftover food, fish poop, etc... but they all poop too and the sand bed will still collect gunk over time. They are all fun to watch, I think they all contribute to my mini ecosystem and I wouldn't want to give them up.
I have blue leg hermits, nassarius snails, turbo snails, cerith snails, nerite snails, limpets, serpent stars, brittle stars, conical spine stars, sea cucumbers, peppermint shrimp and red mithrax crabs. Yes, they all feed on leftover food, fish poop, etc... but they all poop too and the sand bed will still collect gunk over time. They are all fun to watch, I think they all contribute to my mini ecosystem and I wouldn't want to give them up.
Dexters Reef
New member
+ 1 for diversity. I have tons of small blue leg hermits, and a few scarlets. But for snails I have Cerith, Turbo, Astrea, Nassarius, Nerites, and limpets, and seeded my tank with 2000 live pods. Different snails eat different things, so diversity is the key
wolfenstein87
New member
My favorite for sand bed cleaning is a star fish and or a tiger conch. They keep the sand bed turned over and clean. My pistol shrimp does all of the deeper cleaning under the rocks. In my short time in the hobby I have learned to love nerite's, by far the most hardiest of snails IME, and by pure chance have had over two dozen eggs hatch. Emerald crabs are good cleaners but you have to keep them fed, I have had them go after shrimp before, and I swear hermits were created for our amusement. It's always funny to see one randomly fall from the rock work.
corals4life
New member
+1 diversity
+1 nassarius snails for sandbed
+1 nassarius snails for sandbed
corals4life
New member
+1 diversity
+1 nassarius snails for sandbed
+1 nassarius snails for sandbed
I think it depends on how much work you're willing to do on the maintenance of your tank vs letting your CUC do for you. If you're going to vacuum the accumulated detritus routinely, vacuum the sand periodically, always scrape the glass yourself, and immediately take out any dead fish you end up with, then no a CUC isn't necessary.
Personally, I like the diversity in the tank as much as I like that they are doing a job for me. My girls like the hermits crawling around and they giggle when they fall off the rocks. If a creature can entertain you while they're working, then they're a good addition to your tank.
Personally, I like the diversity in the tank as much as I like that they are doing a job for me. My girls like the hermits crawling around and they giggle when they fall off the rocks. If a creature can entertain you while they're working, then they're a good addition to your tank.
my kids get a kick out of the hermit crabs too when they run around and fall off things, the other thing I dont know what there called but the snails that dig into the sand and have the little tube sticking up, they love when I feed and they get to watch those snails come out and start cruzin!
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