Clean up crew for predator tank

[phantomg]

What kind of CUC can you use for a predator tank? It is currently housing a lion, Picasso and a spotted puffer. Thanks.

 

[water is wet]

IME nothing you will more than likely have to always replenish the cuc.

 

[GimpyFin]

Longspine urchins are good for algae control in an aggressive tank.

 

[phantomg]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Fish Everywhere]

Longspine urchins are good for algae control in an aggressive tank.

+1, never personally seen it get eaten, should be a good choice considering its spines are made for that purpose haha.

 

[water is wet]

You said Picasso right? If so I'm assuming that's a Picasso triggerfish and they will eat urchins. I have no personal experience however it's safe to assume that if they do in the wild they will do it in your fish tank.

 

[agreeive?fish]

well a long spine lasted a few minutes before my stars and stripes puffer found a way to get the urchin out of the rock cave, flip him over and LUNCH TIME..personaly the only clean up crew i have found that wont be a snack for the puffer is manual tank cleaning..no living clean up crew thats living stands a chance with my puffer

 

[slay]

I've also had a Longspine Urchin flipped and devoured. In my case it was a Picasso Trigger that did it.

I have had better luck in the past with large hermit crabs (3-5" provided with large shells, that allow them to fully withdraw into the shell when threatened) for detritus cleanup in a tank with a large Dogface Puffer and a large Picasso Trigger. Large specimens of species like the Red Hairy Leg Hermit and the Starry-eye Hermit have a good chance of withstanding predation.

 

[cougareyes]

The most aggressive I have is a pink tail, a pair of bluejaw triggers, and a yb dogface puffer. I keep snails, hermit crabs, and a tuxedo urchin. I find that if you wait until your fish have gotten use be feed in captivity they tend to get a little lazy in hunting and devouring your clean up crew.