Need clean up crew that is tough (wont be eaten)

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Apone

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Dec 8, 2003
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I have a large FO marine tank and I get a healthy amount of detritus on top of my gravel that will grow algea very quickly if not dealt with.

I tried adding 3 Astrea snails, but they were eaten by my butterfly and angel. I tried feeding my fish their regular food to distract them, but they found the snails to be to good to leave alone. THe snails wound up dieing.

I really am looking for clean up crew animals that will be able to withstand my fish...is there any such animal?

Is an urchin a good idea? I have heard these guys can be problematic...
 
Try getting nassarius snails. They tend to stay in the substrate better. They reproduce inmy tank, so I have a good supply of them and the few that the trigger gets aren't a big deal.

A large hermit may work, but may cause other problems--they tend to be bull dozers.

Bristleworms would also help out--they are mostly nocturnal, and stay well hidden during the day to avoid predators.

I wouldn't go with a star--they would help, but IME, it only takes one mistake on their part before they get torn up badly. Even the sand sifters--I tried one with the trigger, and it was fine for a few months, then came up missing 3 arms. It survived, but I removed it from the tank to prevent it from getting attacked again.
 
I had a turbo snail attacked and mortally wounded when a hermit crab got it during the day while he lay dormant. Try a load of hermits. The Hawaiian zebra hermits don't get big and are pretty tough. At least they can crawl way up in their shell when threatened.
 
I did notice that when harrassed my snails were unable to completely move into their shells....this was especially bad if my fish turned them over.

I think it is important to either have a large amount of snails that are smaller and hid in the substrate....or get aniamls that can completely retract into their shells when needed...
 
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