inverts

[Reefer769]

i currently have 3 hermit crabs in my 30gal tank. i really think i need some help choosing a clean up crew quick. i had 6 crabs and 6 snails before, but the crabs ate the snails and some crabs ate the crabs as well, some words of wisdom, DONT GET CRABS THEY SUCK. so if anyone can just name the names of some critters and how mnay of each i would need in my 30 gal cube tank it would be great, thanks!

[Sueet]

DONT GET CRABS THEY SUCK.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree there... I have 10 or so hermit crabs (8 blue leg, and 2 red, not sure if they're 'scarlet reef' or something else).
They have never been a problem, either to each other OR to my snails or other inhabitants...

The key is to provide for their needs the same as you do for the other livestock. They need food, and most of all...They NEED new shells to be able to change into as they grow, and if YOU don't provide them, THEY have NO choice. I have many shells in my tank for them to choose from, style and size vary.... And my critters get along just fine!

[Poseidon]

I dispise CRABS!!!!

Here is what I would suggest:

At least 12 Astrea Snails (maybe 18)
6 Cerith Snails
6 Nassarious Vibex
6 Nerite
and maybe 1 Strombus Alatus. (fighting Conch) Those grow pretty fast and require 2 sq ft of substrate per speciman, so you may not meet the requirements for him....

That would be a good "kit"!!!

[Reefland]

I like Mike's list, the only addition may be a couple of Turbo Mexican snails. E-Tropicals is where I purchased my last snail team and was pleased with not only the livestock, but their prices; if you do the Build Your Own option and get at least $60 worth, overnight shipping is free.

[Penguin]

DONT GET CRABS THEY SUCK.

Hermit crabs don't suck, they RULE!

[zhenya]

I dispise CRABS!!!!

Here is what I would suggest:

At least 12 Astrea Snails (maybe 18)
6 Cerith Snails
6 Nassarious Vibex
6 Nerite
and maybe 1 Strombus Alatus. (fighting Conch) Those grow pretty fast and require 2 sq ft of substrate per speciman, so you may not meet the requirements for him....

That would be a good "kit"!!!

I like Mike's list as well but I would caution against keeping Strombus alatus. Just to clarify, they need about 2 sq.ft. of open sand per inch of shell length.I don't believe 30g tank is large enough to keep one of this snails.

[Penguin]

I've kept an S. alatus in a 20g successfully for well over a year. Probably half to 3/4 of the sand surface is open, i.e. not rock covered. JME.

[Reefer769]

i really did love my crabs in the beginning and still WOULD if they wouldnt of ate all 6 of my snails and themselves, i guess i deserve a little punishment becuase i may not have provided them with all the right things, but i tried to keep MANY diff size shells in there and they seemed to have plenty of food, so i dont know where i went wrong. does anyone think i should go out and buy a snail kit from the LFS or off the internet?

[Poseidon]

Thanks for the clarification Gene... I knew it would be a stretch to be sure.