what can replace my Crabs?

[mmenz22779]

Anyone have any idea what can be used to replace my emerald and hermits? I wish to keep 4-5 featherdusters in the tank, but my crabs just eat them. So i am thiking of getting rid of the crabs.

My tank is also built upon "natrual enviroment as much as possible". I know the crabs are part of a CUC but is there anything else that can perfome the same job functions as crabs?

I use mine to mostly eat the extra crap in the tank. I have plenty of algea eaters. Just need some Crap eaters that have low Bioload?

 

[rkelley_10]

Can't go wrong with more Mexican Ceriths. Great detrivores. I hate hermit crabs in my 225g prop tank so I have a lot of nassarius, cerith, trochus, astraea, stomatella, and nerite snails.

 

[FrozenSeas]

Try a brittle star or 2. I like them for getting all the wast food that gets trapped in the lower rocks where the fish can't get at.

 

[mmenz22779]

rkelly 10 - myonly concern with more snails is do they muliply a lot? I had some freshwater snails at one time in my Fresh water tank and they got so out of control that i had to take down the tank and start over.

I dont want the same fate for my salt water? Have you seen your snails muliply?

FrozenSeas - presenlty I have really tiny ones or mini brittle stars, i would say at least 5-10 right now, they just hide in the rocks and never come out. These guys are really really small.

I also have a harliquin star and a Sand Sifting star fish (i might trade him in though), you think one more larger brittle star will be ok?

 

[disciple]

I don't like hermit crabs either. When i was spot feeding my palys they would always steal their food. If i were you I would buy a Pink Cucumber or some type of cucumber. I had one for awhile. He stayed hidden most of the time and when i did see him he was crapping out sand pellets that he had digested. Clean Sand That is always a good feeling.