Safe algae eaters?

Discussion in 'Invertebrates' started by DJ_Z, Feb 18, 2015.

  1. DJ_Z

    DJ_Z

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    I had a dozen margarita snails, half a dozen astreas, six bumblebees and three mexican turbo snails in my tank along with a couple of larger hermits, one blue and one orange neon knuckles, as the core of my original cleanup crew in my 40 gallon breeder. All of the algae-eating snails in the tank are gone, and I have reason to believe the hermits are responsible. I have bought some sinking invert pellets to feed in an effort to keep them from attacking snails to eat, but I was also curious if the species mattered. Are there any snails I can keep that won't just be seen as new food by them? Or should I just increase my hermit crab population now that there are plenty of empty shells for them to inhabit later >.>

    Thanks

    Z
     
    DJ_Z, Feb 18, 2015
    #1
  2. DJ_Z

    Aquarian

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    Lots of people remove hermits from their CUC for that reason. I don't think any snail would be safe if your hermits like escargot
     
    Aquarian, Feb 18, 2015
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    ErinCahir and salt_for_brains like this.
  3. DJ_Z

    salt_for_brains Alabama Reefer

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    I have always ran tanks with hermits. I am sure they have taken advantage of opportunities with a snail meal from time to time. I have never had my whole snail population decimated.

    IMO, if I were to do one or the other--- I would run all snails rather than hermits. There are many different types of snails that have different jobs. They just do a better job of cleaning.
     
    salt_for_brains, Feb 18, 2015
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    Aquarian likes this.
  4. DJ_Z

    ErinCahir Sausage Wrangler

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    I only kept the micro ones after a lot of trial and error. I love hermits but they love snails.
     
    ErinCahir, Feb 21, 2015
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  5. DJ_Z

    BigDeal

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    Large turbo snails seem too work for me.
     

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    BigDeal, Feb 21, 2015
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