Crabs and snails...

[dadstank]

I am going to get a bunch of crabs and snails. I feel that many of them are missing? Anyway I am getting a major outbreak of deep dark green algae all over the rocks. Everything looks very healthy and happy but I will be away for a few weeks and want to put in a little extra helpers during the time. I have someone who knows nothing about fish tanks let alone knows what husbandry even means...

What type of crabs/snails does anyone suggest?

 

[Anonymous]

I would go easy on the crabs. They're better at killing things you'd like to keep than keeping the tank clean. Margarite (sp?) snails, large turbos are my first choice. Astreas are OK, but they end up upside down on the sandbed a lot.

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

Ditto on the turbos and astreas. Cerith snails. Conchs for your sand if you have any. Stomatella. Maybe a red legged hermit or two.

 

[Anonymous]

They can be reef re-arrangers sometimes, but Mithrax sp (emerald) crabs eat algae like it's going out of style. Just buy them from a reputable store so that you get what you should and not a look-alike. Also, get them small so that they don't have the oomph to re-arrange anything large.

 

[jandree22]

IME, margarita and turbo snails died off for some unknown reason right away... however the Astrea's have lived for quite some time.

Nassarius snails are awesome, my favorite snail... but they're not algae eaters... more scavengers.

A fighting conch is definately still on my wish list for the sand, too


Plain and simple... I refuse to put anything with claws in my tank, with the exception of shrimp. Hermit crabs have too many horror stories and I've HAD a horror story in my tank with an emerald. Just IMO, though.

 

[mattstewart]

i've had no problems with scarlet reef hermits. they seem to be the safest, and i like them.

good snail articles that everyone should read if they haven't already:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php - part 1
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rs/index.php - part 2
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/rs/index.php - part 3

 

[Anonymous]

i've had no problems with scarlet reef hermits. they seem to be the safest, and i like them.

Agreed, but put too many in the tank and all that will left on your live rock is the coraline algae. No sponges, tunicates, tubeworms, etc. I like them in moderation.