Feeding The Crew!

[newbie1981]

Hi peeps,

Already got some clean up crew in my 24g Nanocube, and want to get some more as there is still a lot of diatoms on the sand bed, Currently I have:

2 Turbos snails
3 cerith snails
1 blue leg dwarf hermit
1 red legged hermit

I want to add:

2x Turbo Snails
5x Nassarius Snails
4x Trochus Snails
8x Blue Leg Hermit Crab

I'm in no hurry to add fish to the tank yet, as I will be adding a fuge next month and want to get things established, so was just wondering whether I would need to start feeding yet to ensure the entire crew are getting their fill?

Also - i have been looking at the additional CUC from Aquatic Life Direct has anyone else used this site or can suggest any other good online (UK) shops??

Any suggestions??

 

[@ombomb]

personally i'd try and find somewhere local so you can go in and actually see what you're buying.

makes the journey much less stressful for whatever you purchase as well.

the whole point of the cleanup crew is that they eat algae from the rocks, as long as there's algae in there there's no need to feed, with the possible exception of the nassarius snails.

also, i'd avoid blue legged hermits. of the hermits i've kept they've been the only ones which have shown any aggression to snails in the tank.

 

[Colin_T]

10 hermit crabs might be a bit much in that size tank.

 

[SkiFletch]

Agree on the bluelegs. Mine were punks and killed snails all the time. No more hermits for SkiFletch

 

[newbie1981]

personally i'd try and find somewhere local so you can go in and actually see what you're buying.

I keep getting pee'd off with my local stores, for varying reasons they have let me down - especially one that is not so local, and was a bit of a wasted trip!! But maybe I'll persevere, as the delivery costs seem to hike up the prices online anyway!!

Agree on the bluelegs. Mine were punks and killed snails all the time. No more hermits for SkiFletch

With regard to the hermits, any others (or different crabs altogether) that you would recommend, as I love watching the little guys, and would be a shame to just have the 2 to watch!!

 

[SkiFletch]

I keep only one hermit in my system currently, a rather large electric blueleg. He fits nicely into a large turbo snail shell... He doesn't bother my smaller cerith, astrea, nassarius, trochus, or margarita snails, likely cause he knows their shells are way too small for him. Might be an option for you. I've heard mixed successes with redleg aka scarlet hermits.

 

[@ombomb]

I have about 8 red leg hermits with no problems with snails, electric blue / blue knuckle never bothered them either, just blues which seem a persistent PITA

where abouts do you live? someone may be able to suggest a better shop

 

[Lynden]

I keep zebras with snails... though my favourite hermits are the larger ones, such as Dardanus.

 

[Musho3210]

my blue leggs are fine with my astreas and nasaritus

 

[BigC]

my blue leggs are fine with my astreas and nasaritus

I have both types of hermits ( red and blue legged) Mine are also fine with the Astrea, Nassarius and Jumbo Ceriths. Plenty of spare shells in the tank keeps them from snail hunting.
Regards
BigC

 

[newbie1981]

So I have order the additional crew - slight change in numbers, but pretty much what was listed above (less hermits some may be pleased to hear!!) I have asked them to chuck in some spare shells too, so hopefully i will get those to avoid any fighting/killing!!

I will keep you posted on how everyone gets on - and on the quality/service from the website as i order them from the aquatic life direct site.

Fingers crossed!!