Reef Safe Invert Recommendation?

[MikeD88]

I can't seem to keep a cleaner shrimp for some undiscoverable reason. I've gone through 4 a have tested everything... noone can seem to figure it out, so I'm giving up on them for now. Anyways, do you guys have any recommendations on a reef safe invert? I want 1 cool invert for my tank. Let me know some opinions... Thanks!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I enjoy my little emerald crabs. Don't see them too much in a bigger tank, but they are neat.

 

[subielover]

I don't know how large your tank is but pom-pom crabs are cool in smaller tanks. They seem to get a little lost though in the larger tanks.

 

[MikeD88]

I have 1 emerald crab... used to have 2, but the other decided it liked the taste of dendro's so I got rid of it. What about a sea star of some sort? Maybe an urchin? I have a 29 gallon biocube

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Urchins are cool, but the will rearrange your frags! Oh yea and sting you if your not careful. Got me the other night! LOL!

 

[MikeD88]

Are urchins %100 reef safe? If so, I might try a tuxedo pin cushion

 

[ZoaFan08]

Why cant you keep cleaners? Do they just die? Do you have any other shrimp?

 

[MikeD88]

Why cant you keep cleaners? Do they just die? Do you have any other shrimp?

I made a post on it... they last about a week and then 1 day they act sick and die. I've tested my water for everything, from copper to alk to ph. Everything is good... I have nothing that would attack them. It seems like there must be something in the water chemistry but nothing shows up in any tests. Not only that... everything else in my tank thrives. Its a mystery as far as im concerned.

 

[ZoaFan08]

Have you tested copper?

 

[JR's Reef]

Are urchins %100 reef safe? If so, I might try a tuxedo pin cushion

I would say NO. Dont think all of them are. I had a longspine that eat the rims off my chalices.

 

[foxyb]

i have an orange linkia that brightens up the tank there not finicky like there blue relatives. are you looking for a service invert or just a cool looking one?

 

[starfish]

Cleaner shrimp need a salinity of at least 1.022 and Ph of 8.0, Lower they will not survive too well. You didn't mention your PH or salinity. They really like it best at .024.

How about a peppermint shrimp they are not as touchy about chemistry as cleaner shrimp. In a small nano 2 would be just fine. I would stay away from Urchins cause too much damage one way or the other unless you have a really large tank.

 

[Azurel]

How about a Fire Shrimp? They clean fish as well and do not bother corals unless they are stealing from them at food time other then that they don't bother a thing. I have had one for 3 years now and few before that they really add a nice bright red color to the system.

 

[MikeD88]

Have you tested copper?

Yes, it was ok

 

[MikeD88]

Cleaner shrimp need a salinity of at least 1.022 and Ph of 8.0, Lower they will not survive too well. You didn't mention your PH or salinity. They really like it best at .024.

How about a peppermint shrimp they are not as touchy about chemistry as cleaner shrimp. In a small nano 2 would be just fine. I would stay away from Urchins cause too much damage one way or the other unless you have a really large tank.

Ph is 8.2 salinity is .025, like I said... everything was tested with perfect results.

 

[MikeD88]

i have an orange linkia that brightens up the tank there not finicky like there blue relatives. are you looking for a service invert or just a cool looking one?

It can be something cool looking, aren't orange linkia's near impossible to keep? I heard linkia's in general are very hard to keep alive.

 

[MikeD88]

How about a Fire Shrimp? They clean fish as well and do not bother corals unless they are stealing from them at food time other then that they don't bother a thing. I have had one for 3 years now and few before that they really add a nice bright red color to the system.

Do you think a different shrimp will make it? After seeing 4 dead cleaners... I'm very reluctant to try any shrimp

 

[foxyb]

they are not hard to keep like the blue linckias , but will not survive in a young tank they require lots of sponges and film algea


also the oils from your finger will kill them if directly contacted

 

[laskopyre]

I have a red brittlestar that hides, but is cool looking when it does come out.

 

[Jason edwards]

Im just throwing this out there as a slim possibility. One obvious possibiliy is mantis as was brought up in previous thread but one possibilty that was not is perhaps Isopod. I have heard of certain kinds burrowing right through a crabs shell. Have you seen anything like this?

Also if you iodine is too low then they will have difficulty molting and eventually die or be all deformed.