Natural Clean up Crew

[Kasey Grohowski]

I made a post about this before, didn't really get any answers so I'll try again. Looking to find out any natural clean up fish that I can safely keep for their entire life in a 220 with a coral catshark and snowflake eel. So far I have arrived at a blue tang. Any answers are appreciated.

 

[James M]

What do you mean by natural ?
220 cuc pack. You can also create you own
https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/quick-crew-220-gallon

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

What do you mean by natural ?
220 cuc pack. You can also create you own
https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/quick-crew-220-gallon

I mean fish/invertebrates that just eat algae etc

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I mean fish/invertebrates that just eat algae etc

There are so many choices. Many of them do different jobs so variety is good

 

[James M]

I mean fish/invertebrates that just eat algae etc

Are you looking for anything specific ?
That’s what a CUC is and fish shouldn’t be part of it. The link has a lot of options you can don

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

There are so many choices. Many of them do different jobs so variety is good

Normally I'd agree there are many choices, but add a shark and eel in an enclosed area and that list significantly decreases, basically no snails/hermit crabs that will last more than a week.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Are you looking for anything specific ?
That’s what a CUC is and fish shouldn’t be part of it. The link has a lot of options you can don

Didnt know what a CUC was before now. Also nothing specific, anything that will clean, fit in a 220, and won't get eaten/nip at a shark.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

What do you mean by natural ?
220 cuc pack. You can also create you own
https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/quick-crew-220-gallon

This seems pretty neat. Although still I'd be willing to bet they would become food pretty quick.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Do sharks eat urchins? Perhaps a long spine or pencil urchin?

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Do sharks eat urchins? Perhaps a long spine or pencil urchin?

I have heard about them I need to look into them more. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Ideally, I'm looking for the saltwater equivalent to a freshwater pleco, haven't found anything like that yet though.

 

[James M]

I didn’t know sharks eat hermits and snails

Ideally, I'm looking for the saltwater equivalent to a freshwater pleco, haven't found anything like that yet though.

there is nothing like that. Closes thing is a urchin

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Ideally, I'm looking for the saltwater equivalent to a freshwater pleco, haven't found anything like that yet though.

Lawnmower blenny will eat far more algae than any pleco. Mines belly always looks like it's ready to explode and unlike a pleco his focus is algae all day. Not sure if it would be a snack for your eel or shark though

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Lawnmower blenny will eat far more algae than any pleco. Mines belly always looks like it's ready to explode and unlike a pleco his focus is algae all day. Not sure if it would be a snack for your eel or shark though

Yes, I have been told that it will be a snack.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Not sure about crabs etc but can that shark live it's entire life in a 220? I think you may need double that in the future anyway

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Not sure about crabs etc but can that shark live it's entire life in a 220? I think you may need double that in the future anyway

24 inch shark

 

[Jon Fishman]

24 inch shark

Currently? I am just going based on minimums/recommend based on googling Coral Catshark

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Currently? I am just going based on minimums/recommend based on googling Coral Catshark

If you google coral catshark it will tell you that you need a 180 gallon tank or maybe even less. The shark maxes out at 24 inches. Plus it's not an active swimmer, mostly active at feeding and on the sand bed.

 

[A sea K]

I'm not sure what would be on the menu but for a few ideas to look into to see if they would work are, sea cucumber (distasteful), conch(too tough a shell)and as already mentioned a sea urchin(spiny mouthful that is sure to be a pain). I would think size would be a factor so go for larger specimens for all of the above if they do turn out to be appropriate.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

I'm not sure what would be on the menu but for a few ideas to look into to see if they would work are, sea cucumber (distasteful), conch(too tough a shell)and as already mentioned a sea urchin(spiny mouthful that is sure to be a pain). I would think size would be a factor so go for larger specimens for all of the above if they do turn out to be appropriate.

I have heard before the shark can injure itself on an urchins spines, I have to look into it more.