Snails

[FERG42995]

Am wanting to get snails and crabs for my fish only tank. Is the rule of thumb for snails (1 for every 2 gallons) for just one kind of snail, or the total for all of them. How many should I get for the sand (the Nassarius ones) versus how many should I get that eat algae off of live rock and glass? I have a 55 gallon. I also plan to get 1 or 2 peppermint shrimp and already have 4 hermit crabs. Is that enough crabs or how many? Thanks!

[erikharrison]

you need at least 1 crab per gallon. That is the rule of thumb at least :)

[mathias]

now since its fish only what type of fish are you going to get? because if you get some that like to snack on crabs and snails you may not want to order that many

[FERG42995]

Good point. Thanks, everyone, for your help. Thus far, I have narrowed my list to pick from the following: Royal Gramma Basslet, Horned Blenny, Pakistan Butterfly, Lemon Butterfly, Pajama Cardinal, clownfish, Blue Green Chromi, Yellowtail Damsel (the true one that is the least aggressive of them, not the ones that are sometimes called Yellowtail but aren't), Firefish Goby, Fridmani Pseudochromi, Spotted Mandarin Dragonet, Longnose Hawkfish, Flame Angel, Black Barred Convict Goby, Yellow Tang, Finespotted Fairy Wrasse, Sixline Wrasse. Any major concerns here with crabs and/or snails?

[Bill S]

The hawk CAN pick at crabs & shrimp - mine doesn't. Frankly, I'd look again at the damsels... The Mandarin should wait until the tank is at least a year old, OR buy one that eats frozen foods.