What type of Snails

[blakeoe]

What type of snails are best to keep as part of your cleaning crew? My friend has allot of Mystery snails (i think) and he told me not to get them b/c they are big and move "like cows" and push over his rocks. Are there smaller snails that do a good job? What kind is best? Is this the same for hermits? What type of crabs are best?
Thanks Guys!

 

[dippin61]

cerith

 

[dc]

I like ceriths, astreas, and nassarius snails. You have to spend time flipping the astreas back over, but they are excellent cleaners. Not real fond of hermits, I have about 4 in my 75. I like Sally Lightfoots, but many people have problems with them as they get larger. Emerald crabs are fairly safe, but as in any crab, it's a hit and miss.

 

[mike89t]

Here is a thread I put together on snails that I prefer:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=748495

 

[blakeoe]

great thread!

 

[EvilMel]

I too like Ceriths and Nassarius. Ceriths are commonly found on the glass in my tank and sometimes on the substrate (not commonly though). Nassarius are kind of the opposite in that they burrow in the sand and clean the bed, but I have on occassion found them on the glass. They are really cool because they will stick this tube up out of the sand so you can tell where they are a lot of the times. Then when you feed, they will all come out of the sand. Neat little buggers if you ask me.