Reef custodians

[Myka]

Hermit crabs will kill and eat snails when they get hungry, so it is not wise to house both in the same tank. Margarita Snails are temperate, so they do not tolerate tropical temperatures for very long as it increases their metabolism. The increased metabolism makes them very good algae eaters, but most do not last a year. I have always despised J&L's CUC packages - they are ridiculous.

To give you an idea, here is what I have in my tanks...

90-gallon: 5 Astraea Snails, 2 Ring Cowries, 1 Fighting Conch, 1 Black Brittle Starfish, 4 female Emerald Crabs, 2 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 Pin Cushion Urchin.

50-gallon: 2 Astraea Snails, 1 Fighting Conch, 1 female Emerald Crab, 2 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 Tuxedo Urchin.

[Madreefer]

Or better yet dont over feed. I agree with Naesco. It is a rip off. I don't have a CUC. Hermit crabs are a pain in the ass and I don't like looking at my tank and seeing a big gross looking peice of snot hanging out on the front glass.

[jason604]

I think I'm going to get the same CuC set as yours but switch brittle star for Red Sea star and red scallop because I love it's color and get like 2-3 hermits because they look cool hahha. But yea JL CuCis just a rip off!

Originally Posted by Myka

Hermit crabs will kill and eat snails when they get hungry, so it is not wise to house both in the same tank. Margarita Snails are temperate, so they do not tolerate tropical temperatures for very long as it increases their metabolism. The increased metabolism makes them very good algae eaters, but most do not last a year. I have always despised J&L's CUC packages - they are ridiculous.

To give you an idea, here is what I have in my tanks...

90-gallon: 5 Astraea Snails, 2 Ring Cowries, 1 Fighting Conch, 1 Black Brittle Starfish, 4 female Emerald Crabs, 2 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 Pin Cushion Urchin.

50-gallon: 2 Astraea Snails, 1 Fighting Conch, 1 female Emerald Crab, 2 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 Tuxedo Urchin.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by jason604

I think I'm going to get the same CuC set as yours but switch brittle star for Red Sea star and red scallop because I love it's color and get like 2-3 hermits because they look cool hahha.

Most starfish are not usually hardy long-term because they have bigger or more refined appetites than we can usually cater to. Red Linckia and Blue Linckia Starfish typically are not very hardy for this reason, as are Sand Sifting Starfish, Sand Dollars, and that Flame Scallop you mention.

Green Serpent aka Green Brittle Starfish as well as the Banded Serpents are known to eat small fish and other crustaceans. These guys are all nocturnal and hang out in the rocks.

Black Brittle Starfish are known as being hardy long-term. My BBS is about 6 or 7 years old. The Black Brittles are reef safe in my experience, and I haven't heard any reliable sources say otherwise. The Black Brittles are nocturnal and hang out in the rocks eating leftovers and stirring up detritus.

Here's an oldie, but a goodie: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-0...ture/index.php