macro safe inverts and cuc
- Thread starter wireefman
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phobos2deimos
New member
I don't have turbos, but those are the only one I'd really avoid as they will eat everything, always.
Snails: Margaritas, Astreas, Nassarius, Nerites, Florida (aka Large) Ceriths, (dwarf ceriths are great, and will reproduce, but like to hang out at the water line and I don't like the look), fighting conch, and some others. I usually get ten each of whatever reefcleaners has at the moment. The more sand stirrers the better!
Crabs: I don't like having crabs (heh), there's always that chance they'll go homicidal. That said, if you must (bubble algae, for example), get the smallest emerald crabs you can find. I always keep a few in my sump. Scarlet hermits are great, and extremely, extremely docile. Other hermits that I've had have not been a problem with fish, but will bully other things in your tank, including each other. Get extra shells for growth.
Other inverts: Peppermint shrimp are great, good to get a few as they are social. Don't confuse them with camel shrimp,which look similar but are *******s. Skunk cleaners are great, but may steal food from your corals. Pistol shrimp can be great to keep the substrate aerated, but some people have bad experiences with them (mine killed a couple of fish and would not pair). Go for small candy canes, IMO.
Large serpent stars make me nervous, I know some (can't remember the color) are known predators, but I've heard stories of so many other colors displaying predatory behaviors (even if they never actually killed any fish) that it makes me cautious.
With all the above (except perhaps the emeralds), I've found that if they eat a macro, it's because it's already dying.
Snails: Margaritas, Astreas, Nassarius, Nerites, Florida (aka Large) Ceriths, (dwarf ceriths are great, and will reproduce, but like to hang out at the water line and I don't like the look), fighting conch, and some others. I usually get ten each of whatever reefcleaners has at the moment. The more sand stirrers the better!
Crabs: I don't like having crabs (heh), there's always that chance they'll go homicidal. That said, if you must (bubble algae, for example), get the smallest emerald crabs you can find. I always keep a few in my sump. Scarlet hermits are great, and extremely, extremely docile. Other hermits that I've had have not been a problem with fish, but will bully other things in your tank, including each other. Get extra shells for growth.
Other inverts: Peppermint shrimp are great, good to get a few as they are social. Don't confuse them with camel shrimp,which look similar but are *******s. Skunk cleaners are great, but may steal food from your corals. Pistol shrimp can be great to keep the substrate aerated, but some people have bad experiences with them (mine killed a couple of fish and would not pair). Go for small candy canes, IMO.
Large serpent stars make me nervous, I know some (can't remember the color) are known predators, but I've heard stories of so many other colors displaying predatory behaviors (even if they never actually killed any fish) that it makes me cautious.
With all the above (except perhaps the emeralds), I've found that if they eat a macro, it's because it's already dying.
