list of marine inverts in your tank

[.::Jun77::.]

ok, from 4/16 to 4/20 heres the result

inverts with (+)

red leg hermit - 6

Emerald crab-5
Nassarius snail-5
Blue leg hermits-5
Astrea snail - 5

mexican turbo- 4

Serpent starfish - 3
zebra hermit crab- 3

Sand sifting starfish -2
zebra hermit-2
bumblebee snail- 2
coral banded shrimp-2
skunk cleaner shrimp-2
anemone shrimp-2
sexy shrimp-2
peppermint shrimp-2
pistol shrimp-2
conch(tongan/fighting) - 2

Brittle starfish -1
atlantic cucumber-1
arrow crab-1
striped brittle star-1
limpet snail-1
fire shrimp-1
zebra snail-1
trochus snail-1
marble shrimp-1
margarita snail-1
stomatella snail-1
brittle worm-1
Dwarf Yellowtip Hermit-1
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------

inverts with (-)

peppermint shrimp- 2
arrow crab- 2
coral banded shrimp - 2

blue leg hermit - 1
zebra hermit- 1
emerald crab - 1
caribbean pistol shrimp - 1
anemone porcelain crab-1
saron shrimp-1
harlequin serpent star-1
stone crab-1
peacock mantis-1
aiptasia-1

-----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
participants:

plateboy3293
rlf_racing
ncwaterboy
Tennyson
jaynel78
Tayler
CadetMKultra
AquariumChicky
ROB2005

------------------------------------------------
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there is not much data available, so the trend is not that clear yet, so any new input would be really helpfull.

our next tally will be on sunday april 27 thanks.

 

[cplklegg]

Ok, here goes, I just have a 20H so not alot:

Nassarius snails 10 or so
Cerith snails 3 was the last count, a few died on me
Trochus snails 4 or so, I think 2 have died on me
Stomatella snails I've only seen 2 so far
Limpet snails I've seen 6, but they are so small....
Pacific skunk cleaner shrimp, one is enough, such a pig
Grey/Tan Serpent star, just one, it is an effective scavenger definite plus, just don't get the green ones
Asterina starfishes I've seen 4 or 5
Bristleworms of varying sizes, I've seen 3 different ones, who know how many more there are
Spaghetti worms are popping up all over it seems probably 7 or 8
Featherduster worms 3 I've seen that's all I can remember right now, and yes, I am Crabless. ~

 

[.::Jun77::.]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12383717#post12383717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cplklegg
Ok, here goes, I just have a 20H so not alot:

Nassarius snails 10 or so
Cerith snails 3 was the last count, a few died on me
Trochus snails 4 or so, I think 2 have died on me
Stomatella snails I've only seen 2 so far
Limpet snails I've seen 6, but they are so small....
Pacific skunk cleaner shrimp, one is enough, such a pig
Grey/Tan Serpent star, just one, it is an effective scavenger definite plus, just don't get the green ones
Asterina starfishes I've seen 4 or 5
Bristleworms of varying sizes, I've seen 3 different ones, who know how many more there are
Spaghetti worms are popping up all over it seems probably 7 or 8
Featherduster worms 3 I've seen that's all I can remember right now, and yes, I am Crabless. ~

would you recomend all of these inverts? tnx

keep it coming guys

 

[lancer99]

Jun77,

My corals are my favorite reef-safe inverts, but that's probably not what you meant

I would highly recommend that anyone that hasn't already, read the articles on snails by Dr. Ron Shimek in the May-June 2004 issue of Reefkeeping. I found it really informative, and finally understand why Astreas are too dumb to turn themselves over on the sand (they are from cooler waters in Baja California where there isn't sand, so never evolved that ability...and because the waters are cooler, they don't last long in a typical reef tank...so don't blame your hermits for their deaths!)

And even the Astreas that Florida collectors sell are commonly sourced from Baja California, so you need to be careful and get snails that really are from Florida.

So I would give a plus to these:

Cerith snails: The ones available all seem to be from FL, and have lasted a long time in my tanks.

Serpent stars: Other than the green hairy kind (which are reputed to be fish-killers, and I've never kept), they are not only reef-safe, but as rob2005 and others have noted, cool. Just be aware that if you underfeed your tank, they may need target feeding. If they start to lose the tips of their limbs, they're starving.

Fighting conchs: Again, always (IME) from Florida. Occasionally they bury themselves in the sand, but on the other hand, they also eat Cyano. And if anything gets too close to them, you know how they got their name.

Tonga Nassarius: Giants compared to regular Nassarius, and they do occasionally knock things over, but long-lasting in my tanks.

Filter-feeding crabs (Petrolisthes, Neopetrolisthes, etc.): Cool and form commensal relationships with anemones. Some look mean, like porcelain crabs, but their big claws are only for defense.

Anemone shrimps (Periclimenes sp.): My current fave...cute little (3/4-1") clear shrimps with beautiful markings. The worst they do is irritate corals as they "dance" across them.

Mixed feelings about these:
Hermits: I don't know enough about the various varieties. I have seen them going after snails, but mostly Astreas who may have already been dying.

Regular Nassarius: From what I've read, they are carnivores and not really detrivores. They don't last long IME.

A minus:

Sand-sifting stars: Never kept one...too many horror stories about how they decimate your sandbed's infauna.

ANY other crab than a filter feeder: They are all (AFAIK) facultative carnivores, so if they run out of algae, they'll eat other stuff. That was my experience with a Sally Lightfoot and an Emerald Crab.


Sheesh, my fingers are tired. Hope that helps. Didn't mean to type so much, but you got me started

-R

 

[MSU Fan]

nassarius snails +
tonga nassarius snails +
cleaner shrimp +/- (they steal food from my LPS and my RBTAs, so they get a neg for that - and they stomp coral on their way to get food, but otherwise they don't bother anything else)
fire shrimp +
pep shrimp +
blue leg hermits +
ceriths +
astreas + (although annoying when they fall and die)
turbos +/- (they are great algae eaters, but they are tanks and will knock your frags down)
emerald crab +
N. Wennarae Mantis + great entertainment as long as you don't care about the other inverts; mine has its own tank
pink fromia star + great scavenger
tiger tail cucumber +
red serpent star +
green brittle star - not a friendly critter
pom pom crabs +
hawaiian feather duster +
RBTA +/- annoying sting, and moves a little, but ok once settled.
edit: forgot medium spine urchin +/- great reef guy, but tends to take stuff with him as he goes...

 

[.::Jun77::.]

thanks lancer99 for your very informative post.

also to MSU Fan thanks a lot!

:thumbsup:

 

[.::Jun77::.]

oh btw lancer, i sent you a pm tnx

 

[OceanSpray]

This thread is very timely, as I'm about to order another cleanup crew. I really love the inverts, and am willing to suffer a small amount of damage to corals. Only a small amount though! My list of inverts is below with the results I've had. Not very scientific, but just my experience.

Astrea Snails ............. - ..... Don't harm anything, but don't last long
Sand Sifting Star ........-.......Rumored to deplete the sand bed goodies
Feather Dusters ..........- ......Get eaten by almost everything in the tank


Pencil Urchins ...........+ - Long lasting Algae eaters, knock things over

Electric Blue Hermit ..+ Fairly long lasting
Blue Leg Hermit .... ..+ Fairly long lasting
Scarlet Hermit .........+ Not very long lasting
Mexican Turbos ........+ Very long lasting
GBTA 5" ..................+ My Maroon Clowns love it
Coral Banded Shrimp + Great Cleanup Artist

 

[Sandman1811]

In my limited experience, I have:

sand sifting star +
hermits scarlet and blue +
Turbo snails +
Astrea +
Nassarius +
Skunk cleaner shrimp +

emerald crab -- munches on my bta

 

[Phoenix19]

Cleaner Shrimp +
Emerald Crab +
Strawberry Crab +
Blue legged Hermit Crabs +
Brittle Stars (no idea what type but they are little) +
Nassarius Snails +
Queen Conch +
Fighting Conch +
Astrea Snails +
Mexican Turbo Snails +
Colored Sea Slug (No idea on species; black with green dots) +
Feather Dusters +

 

[urville]

Sally Lightfoot +
Never had an issue yet. I cant see how he'd even catch anything, he has t-rex like claws, tiny and stubby.

Arrow crab +
The kind that cleans his butt alot, lol. He only ever eats dead things. He will if provoked poke at other inhabitants, but not with visible death intent. And I've had sick fish and whatnot.

I have smaller nassarius. +
They only eat left over food, not detritus ime.

Sand sifter star +
regular old grey guy. I dont notice my infauna dying in vast numbers in fact, if you stir up the sand alot copepods will bite you, and if youve never been bitten by one your probably laughing but that really really hurts man. pitbulls of the sea.

Astreas and margaritas -
nothing major, just need flipping.... sigh..... idiots...

Nerites +
These are workers man.

fighting conch+
l love this guy. we call him eyeballs. if you have one you know why.

trochus snails +
always working. never need help.

Mex. Turbo +
i only reccomned one. mines never caused trouble.

skunk cleaner +
love him.

peppermint +
mines never attacked corals. but thats just mine. if it werent for him i'd still have aptasia.

these are my experiences thus far. I think that, just like fish, you can get varying degrees of behaviour. My wrasse was a solor fairy, and he never even came close to maybe looking like he could possibly ever jump out of the tank. Some people's do. He never ate feather dusters, etc. etc.

 

[.::Jun77::.]

ok, so my final exam is over and i passed all my 7 subjects ( A's and B's ) not bad for a guy with a full time job too. although last term i got straight As in 8 subject . anyway enough with the small talk. here's the second tally guys.

i would like to thanks the ff for sharing their time and valuable experience:

lancer99
MSU Fan
OceanSpray
Sandman1811
Phoenix19
urville

cplklegg( still waiting for hes reply, im not going to count hes input yet)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
april 21, 2008 - may 6, 2008

inverts with (+)

Nassarius snail -11

Blue leg hermits-9
mexican turbo- 9

red leg/scarlet hermit - 8

Emerald crab-7
Astrea snail - 7

skunk cleaner shrimp-6
conch(tongan/fighting) - 6


Serpent starfish (red/others) - 5

Brittle starfish (striped/others) - 4

zebra hermit crab- 3
coral banded shrimp-3
anemone shrimp-3
peppermint shrimp-3
cerith snail -3

Sand sifting starfish -2
zebra hermit-2
bumblebee snail- 2
sexy shrimp-2
pistol shrimp-2
arrow crab-2
fire shrimp-2
trochus snail-2
feather duster (hawaian/others) - 2
RBTA/GTBA - 2
urchin (spined/pencil) - 2

atlantic cucumber-1
limpet snail-1
zebra snail-1
marble shrimp-1
margarita snail-1
stomatella snail-1
brittle worm-1
Dwarf Yellowtip Hermit-1
filter feeding crabs- 1
tonga nassarius - 1
pink formia starfish-1
tiger tail cucumber-1
pompom crab- 1
stawberry crab- 1
sea slug -1
sally lightfoot crab - 1

---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------

inverts with (-)

peppermint shrimp- 2
arrow crab- 2
coral banded shrimp - 2
sand sifting starfish- 2
Urchin (spined) - 2
astrea snail - 2

blue leg hermit - 1
zebra hermit- 1
emerald crab - 1
caribbean pistol shrimp - 1
anemone porcelain crab-1
saron shrimp-1
harlequin serpent star-1
stone crab-1
peacock mantis-1
aiptasia-1
non- filter feeder crabs - 1
cleaner shrimp -1
mexican turbo snail - 1
brittle starfish(green)-1
RBTA - 1
margarita snail -1
feather duster- 1

 

[plateboy3293]

I change my vote on the emeralds to a -. He bites the tentacles of my plate coral hasn't been looking good for 4 days now until I removed the emerald.

 

[PadresGirl]

I recently added a reef cleanup crew from LiveAquaria, so I'll play!

Mexican Turbo Snails +
Nassarius Snails +
Astraea Snails +
Peppermint Shrimp +/- (Haven't left the corner of my tank since introducing them...)
Serpent Star +/- (Acclimated according to directions, still lost three complete arms and half of other two, not sure what to do about him...)
Sand sifting star + (Have had her through two tanks and two crashes, probably one of the oldest members of my tank)
Pencil Urchin +
Long Spine Urchin + (Watch out for spines, though, bee-sting like pain and extremely difficult to get spines out from under your skin...)
Purple Urchin + (Only drawback to urchins is they can scratch plexiglass, pain in the butt to buff out...)
Electric Blue Leg Hermits +

 

[philter4]

I have selected my inverts based on my own personal likes, so I don't have any with a minus, if I couldn't recomend them I wont collect them, some have traits that may not make them good pets, but for what ever reason I like them and would recomend them to others. Used the scientific names of the shrimp because several have different names depending on where people live.

SHRIMP:
Hawaiian harlequin shrimp-Hymenocera picta
golden coral banded shrimp-pr, Stenopus scutellatus
ghost shrimp-Stenopus pyrsonotus
no common name-Stenopus spinnosus
atlantic anemone shrimp-Pariclimenes pedersoni
clown anemone shrimp-P. yucatanicus
atlantic scarlet lady cleaner- Lysmata grabhami
sexy shrimp- Thor ambionensis
bumble bee shrimp-pr Gnathophyllum americanum
red snapping shrimp-unknown sp

HERMIT CRABS:
scarlet reef
Hawaiian elegant hermit-same sp as electric blue knuckle, but with orange knuckles
cone shell hermit-sometimes called orange banded hermit
white claw hermit

OCTOCORALS:
yellow sea rod
red sea rod
swiftia-sometimes called deep water red octo
blue octo
brarium

ZOOS:
several colored zoo's including green, blue, yellow, red, brown with yellow centers, ect.

TUNICATES:
blue bell tunicate
flash bulb tunicate

WORMS:
christmas tree worms
feather duster worms
medusa worm

STARS:
red serpent star
guady serpent star
knobby star
golden crinoid

Just recently gave the crinoid away to a friend with big reef, but am wishing I didn't, had this individual for a year and was actually increasing in size and number of arms, but was in a 40 and was getting to where it couldn't spread it's arms because of rockwork and tank size.

 

[clownFish1313]

blue and red leg hermits++(a red one killed one of my super tonga nass. snail for its shell)
super tonga nass. snails++++
astra snail++++
turbo snails-(falling and dieing)
serpent star++
pepermint shrimp+
coral banded shrimp----------(ate a clown fish, pepermint and attacked cuc grew from 1" to 3" in 3 months)

Thanks,
Chandler

 

[Firefish3]

Emerald Crab --- I watched him kill my fish,coral,shrimp,and almost kill my frogspawn.

 

[the budman]

Why is there a - for coral banded shrimp. i have a pair of gold ones and they are fine with everything i have. i do know that i should not put other shrimp in there. i have
pair of gold coral banded shrimp+
3 emeralds+
dozens of assorted hermits +
dozens of assorted snails+
featherduster+
coco worm+
conch snail+
horseshoe crab+
i am not saying anyone is wrong putting a minus for the coral bandeds, i just wondered why
budman

 

[the budman]

i forgot my 2 serpent stars+
also have assorted soft corals, black tube sponge, frogspawn and a torch
Budman

 

[englishgramma]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12339114#post12339114 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plateboy3293
serpent starfish (Ophioderma appressum) +
sand sifting Starfish +
mexican turbos+++
astea turbo= not so sure because you have to right them when they fall
atlantic cucumber++
emerald myrthax+
arrow crab++
nassarius+

Can't believe you have arrow crabs on the reef safe list. Had one once caught it doing bench presses with my sally lightfoot. Tried to eat everything that passed within reach.

Bad news I think.

regards

Richard