Wrasse's and Lion Fish are eating my crabs

[Icewing726]

Yeah, my last tank didn't have this issue. I expected it but not as quickly as its occurring.

My real question is whats a good detritus eater to clean my sand bed in a pred tank that actively targets crabs/snails? (I'm more likely to buy hermits every week then I am to use a gravel siphon)

 

[Easy E]

Mini brittle stars will eat all the excess food and detritus, but they won't clean your sandbed. Plus they will breed and multiply so you will never have to add more. Your fish might eat a few but they will never even put a dent in the population. Nothing is really effective at keeping the sandbed completely clean. Nassarius snails bury themselves, so they will keep the top layer aerated. Plus, they will clean up any food or detritus that makes it to the bottom. Your fish probably won't be able to eat them because they spend most of their time buried and curl up into their shells when attacked.

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[mndfreeze]

I second the nassarius snails for helping to turn the top layer of the sand bed. You also could get a pistol shrimp to dig under and around your rock. It might eventually get eaten as well though but usually are pretty skittish and don't leave their holes very much without a goby watch dog. With lionfish though a goby watchdog is out of the question.

Maybe a larger conch species? How big is your tank and how big are the predator fish in it, and how many do you have of each.

 

[Icewing726]

150 gallon 5x2x2. Fish are small now (2 inches) but thatll change fast. Right now its a lunare and sunset wrasse with the lion. More will be added soon though.

 

[Crooked Reef]

I’d try a fighting conch. It may be big enough they leave it alone. A tiger striped serpent star. They will grab bits of meaty food that hits the bottom. A sea cucumber will clean the sand but if they die they can poison the tank. I have had it happen before. Also if the tank is glass I like pincushion urchins. I have one in my reef and a blue spot fire urchin in my lion tank. Both clean algae off the glass and rocks and have been ignored by any wrasse or lion I have ever had.