For years I have had the mysterious disappearing livestock syndrome. Before anyone cries Mantis Shrimp, let me say that I have spent days looking for some sea monster or grim reaper that comes out at night, and trust me there isn't one. That leaves the animals that I know about. The likely culprits are my two green brittle star fish. They are going to the LFS for trade in, but what should I replace them with? I was thinking just a sand sifting star. Secondly, I initially had tons of hermit crabs AND snails. Guess what, now I only have hermit crabs. Its not that the crabs don't have enough shells, it seems like they just enjoy killing the snails to try out the new shell. I am thinking about getting rid of all the hermit crabs, because the large ones have also killed all the smaller hermit crabs. Does anyone have a snail only tank? Will a selection of snails work as a clean up crew? Let me know what you think. Also, any other inverts that I should consider putting in my tank? Right now, all I have is the brittle stars and probably 6 hermit crabs about .5-1.0 inches each. In terms of fish, two pink skunks and a royal gramma. Suffice to say, my 75 gal is lightly stocked!
I am thinking of making some changes to my tank
- Thread starter pcsimon
- Start date
Octoberfest
New member
Have you thought about a polyclad flatworm as your culprit for the snail loss? I had one in my tank and he killed about a dozen Trochus snails before I ended up finding him, which took about 3 months. Even though they can be large, over 3", they can be hard to see unless you know what to look for or see them by chance. I'm not saying for sure that this is your issue, but it very well could be.
As far as a no hermit tank, I think it would be 100% ok. Just get a variety of snails, ones that will offset each other and you should be just fine.
As far as a no hermit tank, I think it would be 100% ok. Just get a variety of snails, ones that will offset each other and you should be just fine.
plateboy3293
New member
I have no hermit or crab ( crab reference excludes pom pom crabs). tank.
For a 90 gallon I keep 1 long spined urchin, 1 red serpent star, 2 fan worms, 1 atlantic cuke, 12 nassarius, 1 pistol shrimp and 1 pom pom crab. I currently have no algae or diatoms.
I am planning to add about 6 more nassarius, 4-5 more fan worms, and 1 -2 more serpents. When I origionallys bought my clean up crew I bought an arrow crab, emerald crab, and a sand sifting star. The two crabs killed all of my various snails only the nassarius survived, All three are currently at the Lfs awaiting a fish only tank. The reason I got rid of the SSS is because it removed to much beneficial bacteria from the sand bed. Which caused me to have high nitrates.
For a 90 gallon I keep 1 long spined urchin, 1 red serpent star, 2 fan worms, 1 atlantic cuke, 12 nassarius, 1 pistol shrimp and 1 pom pom crab. I currently have no algae or diatoms.
I am planning to add about 6 more nassarius, 4-5 more fan worms, and 1 -2 more serpents. When I origionallys bought my clean up crew I bought an arrow crab, emerald crab, and a sand sifting star. The two crabs killed all of my various snails only the nassarius survived, All three are currently at the Lfs awaiting a fish only tank. The reason I got rid of the SSS is because it removed to much beneficial bacteria from the sand bed. Which caused me to have high nitrates.
plateboy3293
New member
Basically crabs are all opturnistic feeders so its 50:50 personally I don't keep crabs due to this factor.
Cuke's are a different story. If your tank is the 75 gallon. An atlantic or tiger tail would be 100% reef safe. I currently keep an atlantic in as 90 gallon with no bad issues.
Fan worms or feather duster are 100% safe they remove fine food particles.
For snails nassarius vibex are probably the best out of all the snails (but you have to watch out when adding them to the tank because occasionally they will mislabeled and they will send you onyx nassarius which are only fish safe not reef safe). Turbo, astrea and cerith are 100% safe.
Their are only two types of sea urchin that I believe are reef safe and they are long spined and blue tuxedo.
For starfish they all have the potential to capture and eat a fish so none of them are truly reef safe except for mini brittle stars or micro stars these you can't buy for they are just to small to collect but you are likely to get a bunch if you purchase live rock.
Bristle worms are a 100% reef safe as long as you don't have fire worms which are coral eaters.
For shrimp only cleaner shrimp are reef safe 100%.
Sea hares are not reef safe at all for they need more of a quiet macro algae tank where they can constantly eat and they also require low current and plenty of food.
If you are looking for a good guide on buying invertebrates try
Marine Invertebrates by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D.
I think this might help I posted it for another question on reef central.
Cuke's are a different story. If your tank is the 75 gallon. An atlantic or tiger tail would be 100% reef safe. I currently keep an atlantic in as 90 gallon with no bad issues.
Fan worms or feather duster are 100% safe they remove fine food particles.
For snails nassarius vibex are probably the best out of all the snails (but you have to watch out when adding them to the tank because occasionally they will mislabeled and they will send you onyx nassarius which are only fish safe not reef safe). Turbo, astrea and cerith are 100% safe.
Their are only two types of sea urchin that I believe are reef safe and they are long spined and blue tuxedo.
For starfish they all have the potential to capture and eat a fish so none of them are truly reef safe except for mini brittle stars or micro stars these you can't buy for they are just to small to collect but you are likely to get a bunch if you purchase live rock.
Bristle worms are a 100% reef safe as long as you don't have fire worms which are coral eaters.
For shrimp only cleaner shrimp are reef safe 100%.
Sea hares are not reef safe at all for they need more of a quiet macro algae tank where they can constantly eat and they also require low current and plenty of food.
If you are looking for a good guide on buying invertebrates try
Marine Invertebrates by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D.
I think this might help I posted it for another question on reef central.
