Crabs vs snails?

[that Reef Guy]

Double Post.

 

[reefer1]

I've found hermit crabs to be a nuisance. They knock frags over and feed on any snails they can pin down. I've also found that snails seem to be short-lived. I think my wrasses like picking on them. The best clean-up guy in my tank is a tuxedo urchin. It has completely eliminated any algae. Awesome

 

[twistedfinn967]

Like most that have posted, I like the look that the hermits add to my tank but, they become fart knockers in no time, taking out the snails that, IMO do a better job of cleaning. And snails ain't cheap!!!

 

[ritter6788]

Huh?

Clearly you have never had Tiger Trochus Snails (The Cadillac of Snails).

They will Devour Hair Algae like No Other.

I had a Heater Covered in Hair Algae I was going to Clean.

I put in Tiger Trochus Snails a few days Prior and they Polished that Heater Clean!

It is like this when comparing the two

Hermit Crabs = Cutting your Lawn with Scissors
Tiger Trochus Snails = Cutting your Lawn with a John Deere Tractor

There is no Comparision.

I don't have an algae problem so I don't really need them.

Blue leg hermits are excellent at cleaning algae off of rocks and frag plugs in my tanks. I have large turbo and cerith snails but they only eat film algae on the glass.

Just my IMO and IME. Always use what works best for you.

 

[AIRDADDY]

It's interesting to see how people can own the same critters and have completely different experiences than you. Goes to show, there's no right answer!

 

[AIRDADDY]

I just purchased a bag of new shells for my Hermit crabs, so they are looking quite stunning!

 

[m88a2]

my new build will be all snails. too many times i found crabs destroying LPS after a night feeding...or day feeding. And they end up eating way too many snails even if you have ample shells around. Plus, if you get trochus snails, they can reproduce in tank!!

 

[...]

Microfauna - Eat the algae and detritus small tiny nooks and crannies.
Conchs - Eats algae on the sandbed and rocks, and sift the sand.
Nassarius - Destroy detritus in the sandbed, entertaining and sift the sand.
Urchins - Destroy algae on the rocks and glass and depending on the species; entertaining (My pincushion is entertaining to me lol)
Trochus - Eat film algae and reproduce
Ceriths - Eat the algae between the sandbed and glass, sift the sand.