Invertebrates for the Beginner

[saltydad]

Are there any colorful invertebrates one could recommend for a beginner?
I have a 90-gallon tank that has been cycled for 3 months. It has some turbo snails, hermit crabs, and two sand-sifting stars already. (I had an ornate goby, but he recently jumped out of the tank and is now...no more.) I'm ready for something a bit more colorful like starfish or shrimp. I hope to have soft corals and other fish eventually, too.
Thanks!

 

[arod268]

A cleaner shrimp is very active and always in front.
Make sure you acclimate it properly because it most likely die with a poor acclimation.

 

[apos]

90 gal is probably too small to support two sand sifting stars without a fuge supposedly: they'll eat everything in your substrate very quickly and then starve.

 

[swalchemist]

Coco Worm

 

[jawdubb]

^^^ I agree, I have also found a few beautifully colored featherdusters.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Apos
90 gal is probably too small to support two sand sifting stars without a fuge supposedly: they'll eat everything in your substrate very quickly and then starve.
So VERY true. They are sold in the hobby as though they are cute little critters. They do not eat prepared foods and will strip your sand bed then likely die of starvation.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by saltydad
Are there any colorful invertebrates one could recommend for a beginner?
I have a 90-gallon tank that has been cycled for 3 months. It has some turbo snails, hermit crabs, and two sand-sifting stars already. (I had an ornate goby, but he recently jumped out of the tank and is now...no more.) I'm ready for something a bit more colorful like starfish or shrimp. I hope to have soft corals and other fish eventually, too.
Thanks!
Star fish require an established system. If your tank is cycled then you can add your first fish.

 

[apos]

If you want cool inverts, get some narrsarius snails. They are surprisingly fun in the way they burrow into the sand, send up their little periscopes, and then burst out when they smell food to cruise around your tank at top speed hunting it down.
Shrimp sound pretty good though, if you don't feel ready for another fish.

 

[rcreations]

My Emerald crabs are a lot of fun to watch and so is my coral banded shrimp. The Nassarius snails are also fun when you put some food in the tank. Amazing how they all come out pretty much at the same time. But otherwise they're mostly out at night.

 

[bronco]

I have found the arrow crab to be hardy, inexpensive and very entertaining

 

[apos]

Nars also have some amazing flipping skillz. They do little breakdance moves to flip over.
I've heard that the arrow crabs are very aggressive. They do look incredibly cool though.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by bronco
I have found the arrow crab to be hardy, inexpensive and very entertaining
They are very cool and the first invert to be eaten unfortunately.