Clean up crew

[diego]

Is it necessary to have hermits? I am thinking about a clean up crew of all snails. What do you guys think?

[vman181]

Hermits will eat left over food the fish didn't get. They will also eat the dead snails. All this will help with your water quality in the long run.

[RayAllen]

To answer you question

you do not have to have hermits

There are a variety of snails in the hobby that eat a variety of foods.

Turbos are great for algae. Cerith will help keep the sand bed stirred and will eat uneaten food and anything that has died. Nassarius love to eat detrius and scavange for food and also burrows in the sand. Many more to choose from

[recoiljpr]

I agree with Ray, you do not have to have hermit crabs. I have 2 left over from an old tank in my 65. I do not plan on getting any replacements. Besides snails mentioned above there are other creatures that will eat left over food like mini serpent stars, bristleworms, etc.

[diego]

So it sounds like getting a variety of snails will do the job. Thanks.

[diego]

Now the next question. How many snails for a 20 gallon high tank and what varieties? Thanks in advance.

[RayAllen]

for a 20g I would do 5 ceriths or Nassarius for sand/detrius clean up and 5 Astrea snails for algae. If you see you need more after than add them then, but 5 of each 10 total is a good start.

Id pass on turbo snail in a small aquarium because they like bull dozers and will knock everything over that is not secured down