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I think a mix of the two are a good solution. Crabs are "busy" little fellas that are great at getting rid of excess fish food, detritus and such. Snails will take care of alot of the algae. Crabs will do the same as well. Get both, IMHO.
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View Poll Results: to crab or not to crab
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to crab
5 5.26% -
to snail
24 25.26% -
to crab & snail
66 69.47%
Results 1 to 17 of 17
- 09-08-2001 05:12 PM #1Just Moved In
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to crab or not to crab...that is the question
i'm ordering my clean-up crews this week, and do u think i should sub out the crabs? i need reasons, not just opinions!
to crab or not to crab...that is the questionIt's more than an obsession...
- 09-08-2001 05:29 PM #2Governor
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"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds."
- 09-08-2001 08:28 PM #3Just Moved In
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well, looks like most people are partial to both
It's more than an obsession...
- 09-08-2001 09:18 PM #4Mayor
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My experience has been that you can start out with both crans and snails, but you will evenually end up with only crabs. Hermits seem to enjoy eating snails for their shells, or just eating them for dinner. Nassarius snails are great scavengers that perform the same duties as hermits. Plus they don't take out other snails. I am in the process of ridding my tank of hermits and using only snails for clean-up in my tank.
JMO/JME,
AndrewNever be afraid to try something new.
Remember that amateurs built the Ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.
- 09-10-2001 04:01 AM #5Citizen
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I would use some crabs since they are really cool once in the tank. I wouldn't recommend a Sally Lightfoot since they can go
crazy and kill everything. I have scarlet crabs, a couple left handeds,
and the coolest of em all, an Emerald Crab. He eats only green algae.
I've got a couple turbo snails in there and the creatures dont bother
each other.
- 09-10-2001 01:31 PM #6Governor
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Any Crab is not totally reef safe! I use both but I keep an eye on them! I did stop using hermits thou, due to the keep eat my snails!
GOOD LUCK!
VTEC SI
- 09-10-2001 05:18 PM #7Just Moved In
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I gave up on snails. Most are butt ugly, inefficient and short lived.
At least crabs live longer, and are much more fun to watch.
enjoy,
Jack
- 09-10-2001 08:00 PM #8Council
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Finally quit using hermits...It was the last time I saw them with a snail shell on their back
Actually, If you get the right kind of snail their will be many generations ;) so who cares if they are short lived...
-mastaJ
- 07-15-2004 09:10 AM #9Moderator
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Wow!!!
This is an oldie!!! From 2001! I say NO to crabs!
- 07-16-2004 05:35 AM #10Just Moved In
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I said yes to both crabs and snails!!!
Like what the others said, snails take out a lot of algae and crabs eat uneaten food. And another reason for having crab is it will help you to eat up dead organisms in your tank. Sometimes,you may not notice something in your tank had just died off and leaving the dead stuff in your tank is bad... Therefore, the crabs are to the rescue!!!
You can add freshwater balloon mollies too because i've heard from pple that they are "water cows"... Grazing on algae non-stop...(correct me if i'm wrong...)
- 11-30-2004 04:29 PM #11Governor
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i went crabless for about a year...... and i got overrun with algae and crap/// my tank hasnt looked better since i added them back in... granted my snails dont agree with me...
I am not a failure! I have just found 10,000 ways to do it wrong!
rlowride@hotmail.com
http://www.danasoft.com/vipersig.jpg
- 12-01-2004 07:54 PM #12Contributing Member
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Since this keeps getting revived........I like a mix of small......SMALL Hermit crabs and Snails.
Keep your heart pure conceive your own dreams
Respect your fellow man the earth and the trees.
- 12-01-2004 11:14 PM #13Just Moved In
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I have found the same that everyone else has, have crabs, feed them your snails. My hermits aren't to detrimental on the snail population, but my Sally Lightfoot (actually someone elses now), was awful. She would take out 3-5 snails a day, the other morning she was hoarding 3 snails and eating out of all the shells, ahhh!! She also would torment every fish that swam near her. I caught her feeding on my cleaner shrimp a while back. Didn't really think she was big enough to get one of them, guess I was wrong. Since she has been gone my new population of cleaners and peppermint are just fine.
Escargot anyone?
Too many freaks, not enough circuses!
- 12-15-2004 12:51 PM #14Governor
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No crabs... what is it that Anthony Calfo says about them .. "opportunistic omnivores"??
Snails (bumble bee and nasarius) and serpent stars and queen conches for moi...
- 12-16-2004 03:57 AM #15Just Moved In
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How do you like the bumble bee snails? Our LFS just got some and he says they are great for the glass, what do you think?Snails (bumble bee and nasarius) and serpent stars and queen conches for moi...
Thanks,
BrandonToo many freaks, not enough circuses!
- 12-21-2004 02:00 PM #16Governor
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LUV 'em!How do you like the bumble bee snails? Our LFS just got some and he says they are great for the glass, what do you think?
Thanks,
Brandon
- 12-25-2004 02:08 AM #17New in Town
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Snails... I just put the last of my hermits in my fuge.... tired of them eating my snails.... i think snails do just as good
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