cleanup critters in a FOWLR aggressive?

[sharkguy32]

wanted to know if you can have hermit crabs, snails, etc. in a FOWLR with an eel? Looking for something to help on cleanup.
Any help or advice is appreciated!

 

[trigahappynigerog]

i have an agressive fowlr with hermit crabs right now. they clean algae off the lr when the fish are sleeping. i have three that have been in there the longest. i add like twenty every other month. they usually get eaten though. from my experiences put them in when the lights are off. they clean the algae off the rock quickly and by day most will get eaten. they are pretty smart though and hide in holes and there shells when they see a fish getting too close. an eel might eat them though since most are nocturnal.

 

[goldfish]

I wouldn't put a clean up crew in with an aggressive tank. The only one that is really large enough is a trochus snail and even those can become lunch if they get flipped over. They may be large, but they are slow workers.
Mexican turbo snails are smaller and work hard, but they will be a tasty treat! I would pass on a crew if I were you.

 

[mark-24]

Look online for Queen Conch, they are only avaible through capitive breeders because they are endangered. They can get pretty big, up to a foot, but isn't very likely at all. The eat algea (red slime), and stir sand. I've found online for like $7 or so, and are recommended 1 per 25. I've heard pufferlover mention Queen Conch in an aggressive tank, I haven't heard much from him as of late. Here's a pic of a queen conch shell that I found right off the dock of the house I stayed at when I was in Belize, the bottle cap there is just for comparison.

But with aggressive fish, you can never be sure. I suggest getting a few cheap hermits, snails, and a queen conch or two, but don't go out and spend $100+ on a prepackaged deal.
-Mark