DSB with no clean up crew.

[stig]

I live in Japan and in the 3 years that I've kept SW fish, I have barely seen a hermit crab. Basically, I'm going to set up a 46G with DSB and I don't think I'll be able to get a clean-up crew. I will buy a sand-sifting goby of course.
Should I give up on the DSB?

 

[newbe reefer]

No hermits in Japan??
What about Fighting Choncs???

 

[birdy]

As far as I understand, the worms and small fauna in the sand of your DSB are much more beneficial than a clean up crew, clean up crew mainly eats algae and some leftover food that falls to the bottom, just be sure not to overfeed.

 

[finland]

I would agree with Birdy about the worms and infauna being more benificial to a dsb. IMO snails do a better job as far as a cleanup crew, so if hermits are not available stick with snails. Conches are good sand cleaners. Also, someone correct me if I am wrong, but a sand siftiing goby may do harm to the dsb, as it will deplete the benificial critters in your sand bed.

 

[stig]

Thanks for the replies. A sand-sifting goby will eat the critters on the surface but I didn't think that was a problem. Can anyone tell me if it isn't recommended?

 

[bang guy]

i don't recomment a sand sifter.