Crabs, Shrimp, Snails

[CandiBug2]

My tank is 55 gallons, stocked with 5 small angelfish. I do not plan on adding anymore fish to the tank. However, I am interested in adding some smaller tankmates such as crabs, shrimp, or snails. I would really like a crab, but I'm not so sure how that could work, seeing as how there would be no way for the crab to come up for air. Is it anyway possible? Is there any type of crab, shrimp, or snail that I could keep with my angels? Actually... I had a puffer in the bag, ready to check out, but the guy at the LFS told me that a puffer wouldn't go with my angels. Is this true? My heart broke when I had to put him back Any suggestions?

 

[Divisive]

I have some limited experience with crabs. What I have read is that they are territorial, and you need to limit the number you have. With that size of tank, you should not have a problem. I had two in a 10 gal tank. The crabs may eat your snails. They ate one of my three. The big thing, though, is that crabs like large flowing fins on fish. They seem to be attracted and may snip at them. With your large tank, you might be okay. In my 10 gal, the crabs actually ate two of my fish and snipped a beautiful tail fin off a guppie.

I have to tell you, though, that the crabs are entertaining. I really enjoyed watching mine. They were really active. I still have one, but the other one had a hard molt and died on Christmas Eve. I am still very sad about that, because I got a 29 gal tank for Christmas that he could have moved in to!

 

[elgecko]

The crabs like brackish water, and as you stated yourself they need to access air. You could use a large piece of driftwood.
The angelfish might eat the shrimp.

My page on Red Claw Crabs:
http://www.geocities.com/elgecko1989/crab.html