Cleaning Crew Compatibility

bristleworms

bristleworms

New Member
Question-
I am getting ready to order a U-Build It package from swf.com, and am trying to figure out if there are any detrius/algae/pest eating animals that shouldn't be mixed with others. I remember at some point thinking that starfish and arrow crabs ate snails. Is this correct, and are there any other concerns I should watch out for? Also, will my six-line wrasse cause me any problems?
Thanks!
:)
 
fishfood

fishfood

Member
What all are you looking for? Do you have a DSB or just CC?
I like the following and have had no problems in my tank, well that i have seen anyway(I'll explain later).
fighting conch - good for keeping the sand clean and stirred up.
scarlet hermits and blue legs - some people have reported blue legs eating snails and other hermits.. I've seen it in my tank when i didn't catch a snail that fell on its back and couldn't upright himself, but never have i seen one go after any other crab or snail.
Snails - Trochus are able to upright themselves but i still dont' have any so can't comment. Astrea cannot upright themselve but do a good job in my tank for the most part.
Brittle star - its just a plain old brittle star that is goofy looking and doesn't touch anything.. I have seen him fight with my sally lightfoot for food but thats about it.
Emerald crab - I used to have two and they just vanished.. I just got one last week and he has been trimming down the little growth of algae that just popped up. I have seen not problems with him either.
Sally-Lightfoot - hides a lot but is always eating something. There have been reports of them eating smaller sleeping fish and whatnot but it hasn't bothered anything in my tank in the last year.
Shrimp - Cleaner shrimp are great. Before mine died it set up a cleaning station and took care of my one tang that also eventually died from Ich. The other fish were afraid of it but that little shrimp would jump on my arm any time i was doing something in the tank.
Peppermint shrimp - This is the one that i think may have killed my other peppermint and cleaner shrimp. he was a nasty little guy that attacked every piece of coral that i put in the tank. It seems just like a little test to see what has just been added to the tank and it never bothers them again.
I also have a cucumber that is a great sand stirrer.
All of these guys are fine in my tank. A little nipping between them and i have no proof that the peppermint was the one that killed the other two shrimp. Its just a hunch.
hope this helps.
 
jakob4001

jakob4001

Member
reef safe star fish & arrow crabs may fight over food w/ each other, but will leave healthy tank mates alone...wrasse MIGHT eat the arrow crab though...it might like most ornamental shrimps as well...
FISHFOOD, I don't think that one shrimp you mentioned was a peppermint...peppermints are some of the most docile of tank critters...not to mention if you put enough of them in, they will spawn if nothing eats in which case adds up to free renewable tank food...now it might have a been a camel shrimp...I have noticed that some LFS sometimes mix the 2 up...I have never had any of the cames myself, but have heard that they tend to be more agressive; sometimes it can be difficult to tell them apart from peppermints...
personally I'd prefer scarlet crabs as they look better to me & are less aggressive than the blue leggs; but they do cost at least twice as much sometimes...I have seen the blues attack each other & perfectly healthy snails...sometimes w/ death as the outcome & sometimes they didn't even keep the "won" shell...hmmm maybe they should call them people snails :rolleyes:
 
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