2NDTIME AROUND
New member
In an aggressive tank with a panther grouper and/or a lion fish is there any special considerations as to what is used for a clean up crew?
clean up crew for aggressive tank
- Thread starter 2NDTIME AROUND
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Hi there i dont want to hijack your thread but i was just going to post the same question.... I'm really struggling finding a good clean up crew for my fish only tank.... I have a porcupine puffer, dogface puffer and snowflake eel.... Many snails and hermits have perished 
I have got 2 x starfish, 1 x urchin and 1 x tiger Cowrie but its not enough, what does everyone else use?
Many Thanks
I have got 2 x starfish, 1 x urchin and 1 x tiger Cowrie but its not enough, what does everyone else use?Many Thanks
2NDTIME AROUND
New member
I wasn't going to do an aggressive tank, but the wife wants a panther grouper and a lion. I told her she had to decide between cute small and colorful or the aggressive fish. She has spoken.
LauraCline
New member
show her the adult panther grouper and she will probably change her mind on that one at least. They're butt ugly as adults, brown and 27" long.
I like Triggers
New member
In my 225 I house a Clown trigger, Humu trigger, Clown tang, dogface puffer, vlamingi tang and fairy wrasse. I have 6 large hermits who clean the tank nicely.
flfirefighter13
New member
large hermits and larg turbo snails, There like the size of my fist, had a friend with 4" green hair all over the back of his new tank, put them in and it was gone in 2 days
I like Triggers
New member
Turbo snails wont last in my tank, I added 30 huge turbos to my 80, and within 2 weeks my humu had killed them all off. I just had tons of shells in the end, and tons of those disks they leave behind.
Snails and crabs are going to be like popcorn for your fish. Try cowries. Shells are harder and they seem to survive better. Also, every 6 months or so, buy more. Looks for them cheap on line and consider it supplemental feeding. Especially for puffers, they are good for teeth. Cheers!
Im glad to see somebody else besides myslef suggesting cowries!!!
They work GREAT for FOWLR tanks!!!! They are far tougher than most snails and hermits. I ve had them with multiple puffers and a large clown trigger. The fish never killed a single one!! TRUST ME!!!!!!!!!!! I wish more people would realize they can utilize cowries instead of buying mass quantities of snails every month!!! Seriously there is a post at least twice a month about someone asking what kind of a cleanup crew they can use for their FOWLR! Cowries cowries cowries!!! Did I mention cowries!!!!!!
Especially with a grouper and a lion! Even snails and hermits will be ok with those, they dont have teeth!
They work GREAT for FOWLR tanks!!!! They are far tougher than most snails and hermits. I ve had them with multiple puffers and a large clown trigger. The fish never killed a single one!! TRUST ME!!!!!!!!!!! I wish more people would realize they can utilize cowries instead of buying mass quantities of snails every month!!! Seriously there is a post at least twice a month about someone asking what kind of a cleanup crew they can use for their FOWLR! Cowries cowries cowries!!! Did I mention cowries!!!!!!
Especially with a grouper and a lion! Even snails and hermits will be ok with those, they dont have teeth!
sean48183
New member
Cowries sound pretty good but I have to agree about a large hermit. Nothing moves more sand and smells out fish poop like a large hermit. These guys tear through the substrate. If you have fine sand I wouldn't do it. Best with CC because they will kick the fine stuff all over your tank. Nothing will mess with these guys and there cheap to buy. Just remember to feed them every once in a while.
Glad to hear people are using them with success! i wouldnt add too many to a tank. From my experience if you have too many one or so may starve and wither away. I would say maybe 1 for every 20-30 gallons, depending on size. In my old 125 I had one very lg Tiger cowrie and 3 smaller (2.5") "miscellaneous" cowries, along with 4 turbos, my tank was spotless! You definitely do not want to add them like you would snails. This is just a suggestion though, your particular tank may need more or less. It would be good to start oout with two, depending on tank size, and then go from there, juding how many more you may need depending on how much you see those two consume.
