Which ones can acclimate together?

[rudedog40]

Bought a large order online that's supposed to be here this morning:
5 hermits
10 Margarita snails
2 urchins
1 emerald crab
1 sally lightfoot
1 green brittle star
1 christmas wrasse
1 snowflake eel
I have two acclimator drip lines, and two containers to put livestock in for the long acclimation. I know the green brittle needs to acclimate for at least 4 hours, and I'll most likely do the eel and wrasse for 2 hours. The snails, crabs, hermits, and urchins for around 1 hour. Since I only have two drip lines, are there any of these critters I can combine together for the acclimation? My other option is just to 'bag acclimate' the one's that won't mix, and set them in the tank as opposed to a seperate container.

 

[rainbowsix]

The hermits and the snails really don't need acclimation. So you can basically just toss those in. You will find the hermits come dry anyway.

 

[spanko]

i would suggest you go back to your "Two chromis bite the dust" thread and read it again. It seems like all of the good information you got from people then did nothing to slow down your livestock additions schedule.
That being said:
Green brittle stars are known fish eaters as they grow.
The Christmas tree wrasse will probably eat the snails you just purchased.
Snowflake eels are known to be very curious in looking for ways out of the aquarium, and then using the way if they find it.
Just some things to be aware of. I (IMO) think you are going to have a rough go of it with this livestock addition but I wish you well and hope for the best.

 

[rudedog40]

Gotta luv the critic know-it-alls on this board. That flame you for your actions, but then apologize or give you that "but I wish you the best" remark so as not to totally offend you. The post wasn't intended to receive comments about my purchase, but how to acclimate them. As far as my purchases go:
hermits, crabs, snails, and urchins - cleaner crews that practically everyone add to their tanks. I didn't add any more than what is recommended for my tank size.
green brittle star - I've read multiple threads on this species of stars. Some people say they MAY go after fish, some say they've got one and it never bothered them. Considering the only fish I have are one chromis, one spotted puffer, and now a christmas wrasee, all that are very quick and unlikely to be caught by a slow moving star, I'm not too converned about it.
snowflake eel - Yes, I've read how eels can be 'escape artists', and I have accommodated that by closing off all exits from my tank. So because it can potentially escape from my tank, I'm not supposed to purchase one?
christmas wrasse - the informtion I read on this species of wrasse stated they are 'reef safe' and usually only go after shrimp, if any inverts. The experts told me the same thing about my puffer. Yes, he's nipped at a couple of the snails, but since I keep him pretty well fed, he doesn't seem too interested in any of my inverts for know. If he does become too aggressive, I'll pull him out and use him for trade bait for a more docile fish.
Glad you wish me luck on my endeavors. If I do have a 'rough go of it' as you say I will, then that will just be one more learning experience in this hobby now won't it? Thanks for your humble advise.

 

[reefer545]

I agree with spanko. The star will get your fish while they are sleeping if the eel doesnt. Daytime is not the main concern, night is. Who cares about some hermit crabs if you can replace them every time the wrasse deminishes their number, right? Drip acclimate all but the snails and hermits. They should be fine temp acclimated. Everything else needs drip. The star especially should have at least 3 hours of drip with a total water volume more than quadrupling over time. IMO. But what do I know?

 

[mx#28]

Originally Posted by rudedog40
Bought a large order online that's supposed to be here this morning:
5 hermits
10 Margarita snails
2 urchins
1 emerald crab
1 sally lightfoot
1 green brittle star
1 christmas wrasse
1 snowflake eel
I have two acclimator drip lines, and two containers to put livestock in for the long acclimation. I know the green brittle needs to acclimate for at least 4 hours, and I'll most likely do the eel and wrasse for 2 hours. The snails, crabs, hermits, and urchins for around 1 hour. Since I only have two drip lines, are there any of these critters I can combine together for the acclimation? My other option is just to 'bag acclimate' the one's that won't mix, and set them in the tank as opposed to a seperate container.

Back to the original question. Usually, you can acclimate all of your inverts together and all of your fish together in two seperate containers. Many retailers run copper and other medications in their water for fish that would be detrimental to inverts - so don't mix them.
The crabs and hermits can usually just be temperature acclimated and tossed in.
I think 4 hours is excessive, but stars - and many other inverts - are indeed sensitive to changes in water chemistry - so take it fairly slow.

 

[rudedog40]

All noted. So you're saying all these other people on this board who have green brittle stars and snowflake eels, don't have any fish in their tanks? That's not what I read. The only fish the star may be able to eat if he caught it would be the green chromis. But at night, he hangs out at the top of the tank by the heater. Snowflake eel MAY try to go for a fish, but that's if he's real hungry. I do plan on feeding these animals on a daily basis (at least twice a day). Have either of you ever owned one of these two species? Have you experienced probles with these two inhabitants if you have? And what part of 'reef safe' don't you understand? Not all wrasse's are invert eaters.

 

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by rudedog40
christmas wrasse - the informtion I read on this species of wrasse stated they are 'reef safe' and usually only go after shrimp, if any inverts. .
this christmas wrasse (thalassoma trilobatum) will make quick work out of every invert in your tank and is a meany

this christmas wrasse (halichoeres ornatissimus) is just as you described and relatively peaceful

 

[scsinet]

If it's an SWF.com order, I asked them this very question a while back, and learned that SWF has 3 system loops, one for fish, one for corals, and one for inverts, so multiple items in each category, though bagged separately, all come from the same water columns, so you can acclimate them together.
I personally recommend acclimating everything except corals (though these too can be acclimated if you wish). Hermits and snails generally are tough enough to adjust, but as long as you are acclimating other stuff, it doesn't take any extra time or effort.

 

[nycbob]

snails and hermit, i use the floating method. let a little water in the bag every 10 min for 30 minutes. i hv a snow eel in my reef. as long as u keep him fed, he should be fine. mine never try to really escape, except when i first had him. he doesnt bother any small fish of mine.

 

[spanko]

Rudedog40 I really apologize for offending you. It was not my intention to do so. You are correct as I did not attempt to answer your original question, which I should have done instead of researching and putting in my two cents.
I sincerly do wish you well and hope for the best and hope you accept my apology.