Clean up crew member you can't live without?

[cnreef]

So I thought this would be an interesting question to ask you guys. I think it's a topic that a lot of members could benefit reading up on (new reefers for sure).

What's one member of your clean up crew that you just couldn't live without and why?

 

[bklynreef123]

Cleaner shrimp he is full of personality and constantly scavenging. I love my hermits and snails, but the cleaner shrimp is my favorite.

 

[tankdrunk]

x2 on the cleaner shrimp...just more activity to watch. when I feed the tank, mine goes nuts flying around all over looking for a morsel.

 

[tankdrunk]

like to watch them hitch a ride while cleaning the fish too

 

[SS_Sean]

Lawnmower blenny!!

 

[tonymission]

Agree on cleaner shrimp. We have two and they're hilarious during feeding time. We're stupid and make these weird voices like we're the shrimp and it's a hoot. Promise.

 

[Tuton]

A few large turbo snails will do the work of a few hundred smaller snails......

 

[MrMatt83]

I really like my emerald crabs. Cleaner shrimp definitely a close second

 

[MrMatt83]

One thing I hate about my cleaner shrimp is, every time I put my hand in the tank, it will not leave it alone.

 

[snorvich]

One thing I hate about my cleaner shrimp is, every time I put my hand in the tank, it will not leave it alone.

Back in my diving days, I would let them clean m teeth. Feels weird.

 

[snorvich]

I keep all sorts of shrimp, no hermit crabs, lots of varieties of snail.

 

[Endy0430]

Sand sifting star they do a great job turning over your sandbeb.

 

[johnike]

A good variety of snails here with about a dozen Scarlet Hermits.

 

[crissie]

Sea cucumber. Very strange creature but I love it!

 

[Nina51]

brittle stars. they come out of the rocks at feeding time and cruise all over the tank.

 

[johnike]

Sea cucumber. Very strange creature but I love it!

Always liked them, had to give them up when I went closed loop.

brittle stars. they come out of the rocks at feeding time and cruise all over the tank.

Another honorable mention, I have several myself.

 

[Crooked Reef]

I would have to say my peppermint shrimp. I never see them unless I look at the tank after lights out but mine actually ridded my tank of aiptasia so to me these two shrimp are invaluable.

 

[nexusnight]

Often overlooked but awesome algea eaters are royal urchins. Otherwise love the lawower blenny. Such a character

 

[Art13]

One question about cleaner shrimp, will they be just as bad as the peppermint shrimp i had when it comes to me target feeding my lps and them stealing the food out of them?

 

[Crooked Reef]

Probably more so. I don't have an issue with either but I don't target feed often. Peppermint shrimps are more nocturnal so if they come out for feedings you know the cleaners will be there. You can cut the top off of a 2 liter bottle and place it over the coral when you feed it though and it will keep them out.