How often do you buy cleaner crews?

TomToro

TomToro

The Old Guy
Oct 21, 2006
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Michigan
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How long are astreas, Mexican Turbos and nassarius snails supposed to live. Seems like my Nass are doing well, but the Astreas are dwindling. Is this normal?

How often do you add more cleaner crews? Once a year, twice a year?

I think I started out with around 100 astreas and it's now tough to find 50. I do see empty shells, some that have been take over by the growing hermits.

Is it possible the hermits are killing my snails and do some people not have hermits for the cleaner crew?

I also have a large brittle star.

Thanks,
Tom
 
I would personally replace any members of your cleanup crew as when they are gone...For instance, wait untill you need a batch of 5 for example, then batch order from your local fish shop or online supplier...Pointless i think replacing them individually when they go...Loosing a few aint gonna make that much of a difference untill you can replenish..

Niko
 
Germanman said:
just replace them as they die in any way you like. snails can live any where from 1 week to 10 years it depends on species. hermits also will kill snails for food, shell, or fun. what kind of bristle star?
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Not sure what kind of brittle. It's brown with no spikes. About 8" leg to leg with a 1" diameter body.

How many snails should I have in the tank at all times? 2 per gallon?
Thanks,
Tom
 
Your starfish is a brown/black serpent star. A omnivore that is reef safe.

The hermits will definatelty take out some snails.
Stometalla snails are better and will reproduce in the aquarium.
Nassarius snails are the next best snail and will also reproduce in aquaria.

If you have clean up crews because of algae I recommend a Iron based phosphate resin. You will have better control. Also make sure all water used is RO/DI water.

As far as replacing goes. I would replace when populations diminish as needed with the appropriate snails and crabs.(blue leg/red leg hermits)
 
TomToro said:
I think I started out with around 100 astreas and it's now tough to find 50. I do see empty shells, some that have been take over by the growing hermits.
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Astreas will die off pretty quickly if there's not a good supply of food for them. 1 per 5-10 gallons is plenty if you are not having algae problems. Hermits, and some types of shrimp, will definitely eat them. I've had better success keeping small numbers of several types of snails.
 
Never.

My sole turbo has been doing fine, anything else would get eaten by my mantis. ;)

Astreas need a pretty constant supply of algae, maybe you don't have enough to support them all?
 
TomToro said:
Is it possible the hermits are killing my snails
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Mine do. It's kind of funny when I think I'm looking at a snail and then I suddenly see red legs sticking out from underneath it. I get empty shells from my LFS so that they can use those.
 
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