Cleanup crew

[newfishguy]

I have a small 15 gallon that I am setting up with 20lbs of live sand and some small pieces of live rock (probably just a few lbs). I took the lr out of my container that is curing for my 75 gallon when I get it ready.
Does the cleanup crew just eat leftover wasted food?
Does this sound good for a cleanup crew in a 15 gallon tank?
10 Astrea Snails
8 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
1 Mexican Turbo Snails
2 Cerith Snails
1 Emerald Crab

 

[jdragunas]

Well, the emerald crab is a crab, and therefore can get really territorial, and beat up on other fish you desire. Hermit crabs are also notorious for killing the snails and taking their shells. i personally haven't had a problem with this, but i have a 55 gallon, and only 3 hermies!
Cleanup crews do exactly as they sound, they cleanup after your fish. Most hermies like to stay on the LR, and will keep that nice and clean.
Different snails eat different things, so it all depends on what you need them to eat. turbos eat algae, and tend to stay on the tank glass. Not too familiar with the other snails you have chosen. I have nassarius snails, and they dig in the sand, and keep it stirred. Turbo snails will also die if they land upside-down, because they can't flip themselves over...morons!!! lol
Hope this helps!
Jenn

 

[sinner's girl]

Hermits will only kill snails for thier shells if they can't find one. Just keep extra shells of various sizes in your tank.
sounds good to me. You could add a shrimp later one if you wanted. or an urchin

 

[jdragunas]

Not necessarily... i've heard of may people that have lost snails to hermies, even though they had plenty of extra shells...
Jenn

 

[sinner's girl]

did the hermit have enough food? Just a thought. We don't bother with snails anymore.

 

[newfishguy]

Yes, I remember that you had recommended an Urchin to me before. Do they require special lighting? If so it won't live in this tank because I only have basic flo lights for it. Do they live on the rock or sand?
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
Hermits will only kill snails for thier shells if they can't find one. Just keep extra shells of various sizes in your tank.
sounds good to me. You could add a shrimp later one if you wanted. or an urchin

 

[newfishguy]

I only have about 5 pounds of lr and 20 lbs of Aragalive sand in this particular tank. What is the cleanup crew going to feast on? Do I need to supplement them with store bought food or just put a few crew members in my tank?
Originally Posted by jdragunas
Well, the emerald crab is a crab, and therefore can get really territorial, and beat up on other fish you desire. Hermit crabs are also notorious for killing the snails and taking their shells. i personally haven't had a problem with this, but i have a 55 gallon, and only 3 hermies!
Cleanup crews do exactly as they sound, they cleanup after your fish. Most hermies like to stay on the LR, and will keep that nice and clean.
Different snails eat different things, so it all depends on what you need them to eat. turbos eat algae, and tend to stay on the tank glass. Not too familiar with the other snails you have chosen. I have nassarius snails, and they dig in the sand, and keep it stirred. Turbo snails will also die if they land upside-down, because they can't flip themselves over...morons!!! lol
Hope this helps!
Jenn