I have been looking at all the options out there for a good housekeeping crew for my 55g FOWLR. I am thinking of getting a brittle star, a searpant star, 3 or 4 emerald crabs, 10 cerith snails and maybe 10 nassurius snails. I am not a big fan of hermit crabs. and I think I would prefer to stick with smaller snails as they seem to get arround the rockwork better. any body have any other ideas or suggestions. I was considering getting a sandsifting cucumber or two but I read that if they feel threatened they might expell there insides and poison the tank. I dont need that. also do the nassarius and cerith snails stay on the sand bed or do they also clean the rock and glass? any info or ideas pointers would be greatly appreciated.
what is your favorite house cleaning crew critters.
- Thread starter jasonkola
- Start date
You should consider a bunch of blue legged hermits. They are cheap, they stay small, don't harm anything, and are always on the job. Since they are small, the can get in and out of all the little spaces. These are not like regular hermits, which grow and need bigger shells over time.
Alaskan Reefer
New member
Ceriths the best overall cleaner, IMO (good sand stirrer, eat detritus, eat algae), and I don't have much use for hermits either -- if you get nasarrius they serve the same function (excess food, not much else) and sitr sand. Emeralds I'd be cautious on -- I've had them get pretty big (5"+) and seen them destroy large snails. They sometimes eat hair algae, but otherwise don't do too much either.
I'd just go for a few jumbo grazer snails (mexican turbo, astrea, etc.), a dozen or so ceriths, and a half dozen nasarrius. And yes, a few shrimps (cleaners and peppermints) are nice too.
I'd just go for a few jumbo grazer snails (mexican turbo, astrea, etc.), a dozen or so ceriths, and a half dozen nasarrius. And yes, a few shrimps (cleaners and peppermints) are nice too.
ray-ray's_55
New member
i work at LFS..so have had all options but favorite are..Nacarius, cerith , margarita, Zebra Turbo Snails, Zebra hermits are aggressive but they do the best job IMAO. blue legs work fine too.
jdieck
New member
A combination by number of 60% Trochus, 10% Mexican Turbos, 20% of Nerite that are small and 10% Large Tongan Nasarius. If available replace 1/3 of the Turbos by Stomatellas.
I will be cautious with all hermits. If on a reef and want to have some IMO it will be scarlets although they tend to rest on corals for safety without creating damage.
If your tank is less than 100 gal. No sand sifting stars, cucumbers, urchins, abalone and such.
Also I would not recomend emeralds or any other crab
I will be cautious with all hermits. If on a reef and want to have some IMO it will be scarlets although they tend to rest on corals for safety without creating damage.
If your tank is less than 100 gal. No sand sifting stars, cucumbers, urchins, abalone and such.
Also I would not recomend emeralds or any other crab
143gadgets
New member
To keep it simple... Snails, Snails, and More Snails. I just finished getting rid of all of my hermits.
danferd2002
New member
florida fighting conch
thanks guys for al the ideas. this is the first I have heard negetive input on emeralds. I thought they were pretty much vegetarians. haven't heard they would attack a snail. I also thought they stayed small under 2 inches. I guess I will have to research this more. also I had some snails before that kept falling upside down and couldn't upright themselfs and died. I want to stay away from them but can't remember what type of snail they were. I am thinking they were the astreas. but I am not sure.
jdieck
New member
The snails are the Astreas although some Trochus do too. Another disadvantage with Astreas is that most of the ones sold in the US come from colder waters so they may not last long.
Emeralds are a hit and misss and that is the issue the most common problem is not the killing of snails which happen when they run out of feeding options but many times they select their special sps to grab at night. They usually rest grabing the base of the coral scratching the tissue badly, the polyps never expand and eventually the coral recedes. By the way they do not eat all kind of valonia only certain small types.
If you really want a super cleaner for algae my favorite will be a Tang from the Kole family.
Craig Lambert
Premium Member
Nassarius, Turbo, Cerith, Astrea, Torchus, Fighting Conch.
I would skip the hermits. They will kill snails. Not "might kill".. "will kill."
I would skip the hermits. They will kill snails. Not "might kill".. "will kill."
Anemonebuff
New member
When the hermits need a new shell the first place they'll go is to one of your snails.
I use the ones from the Keys and they do just fine. Are you referring to what are commonly called turbos or turban snails?
As far as righting themselves they do have a hard time on fine substrates but IME in a BB or on a more course substrate(ie with some pieces in the 3-5mm range) most seem to do fine.
Where do you get your trochus jdieck? All the ones I have ever found were prohibitively expensive IMO for snails.
Chris
Two Zebra Turbo snails and a Lawnmower Blenny.
Anemonebuff
New member
My favorite was my fighting conch. Mexican turbos are the most diverse eaters IMO.
