Clean up crew with spearers

[englishgramma]

Hi guys,

posted another thred but it wasnt very clear. I am 11 and have a P.Ciliata. Has anyone had success in keeping clean up inverts with these and what.

I have a species tank 40l with 5kg of live rock and some hard and soft corals. Lighting is T5. Lost a peacock smasher earleir this year when dad treated tank for red slime algae and dont want the same again - very sad to lose a fantastic creature and pet.

Advice in UK on mantis keeping is hard to get so any advice would be much appreciated.

thanks

Matt

 

[oceanparadise1]

you probably wont have any luck keeping any inverts with that as he will just eat him

 

[justinl]

most inverts with a hard thick shell are generally okay with spearers. for example, hermits and snails should be fine with a spearer. crabs are a no go since the spearer can attack the soft underbelly.

 

[Guygettnby]

justin is right on the money. there are a couple of crabs you can put in the tank that will be ok, but they are not good crabs and will possibly kill other things in the tank.

stick with hermits and snails. you can also put some conchs in the tank and they will keep your substrate clean as well as help keep down the red slime.

 

[englishgramma]

Just a quick public word of thanks to Dr. Roy. Matthew my son is 11 and loves his Mantis. Getting accurate information over here (Nottingham Uk) is hard so a personal reply to his question was most appreciated. You have now taken over from Cesc Fabregas as his number 1 hero and from an Arsenal fan thats saying something.

Cheers Richard his dad

 

[justinl]

I would not put a conch in a 40L (~10g) tank

 

[rwhhunt]

large hermits would do fine, as with brittle seastars, or chocolate chip stars. I have had success with those and also the snails that burrow tend to usually hide from any trouble nicely (and they are REALLY cheap on ebay)...

 

[oceanparadise1]

yea you can grab like 300 for 50 bucks shipped lol

 

[Guygettnby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12625941#post12625941 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinl
I would not put a conch in a 40L (~10g) tank

:lol: i keep forgetting that they are out of the country and using different measurements. i thought he was talking about a 40 long. but he could keep the smaller species of conchs in that. i have in the past without a problem.

 

[englishgramma]

Hi guys,

and the other thing you forget is that the cheapest sails I can buy are £1.50 a shot nearly $3 a piece.

I tell you that you do well over there with the prices I see

typical uk prices

flame angel £ 60

regal tang £ 30

mithrax crab £10

hermits £ 3 - £ 6 each

turbo snails £ 2.50

don't mention the fancy stuff it costs a fortune.

 

[englishgramma]

what works

what works

After advice and trip to local fish store I can say that hermits dont lst very long but turbos and sandsifting snails seem fine

 

[plateboy3293]

Don't you have the euro in uk thats double what we have a $1 here would be like $2 for every 1 euro you have the better money.
Mexican Turbos can live with mantis shrimp 1 mexican turbo for a 10 gallon

 

[TrappedMetal]

Still on the pound in england mate.
Turbos and hermits are £1.50-£3.00 here.