Ordering a CUC in Canada?

[muck]

X the Margarita snails as they do poorly longterm in our reefs

Personally I would go with something like this for a 120g... of course the amount of CUC you need is relative to the amount of waste your tank produces.

20 - Blueleg Hermits
10 - Redleg Hermits
20 - Astrea snails
10 - Cerith snails
30 - Red Banded Trochus
10 - Tongan Nassarius (only if you have a sandbed)
1 - Strawberry or Fighting Conch (only if you have a sandbed)

[dsaundry]

Not a big fan of Hermits most of the time, and if you order this package, when and how is it going to be shipped, you have a very small window for shipping in the winter and all it takes is on delayed or cancelled flight and you have clean-upsicles. and are out your money. Imo I would wait until spring or find somebody local.

[rocco134]

Originally Posted by dsaundry

Not a big fan of Hermits most of the time, and if you order this package, when and how is it going to be shipped, you have a very small window for shipping in the winter and all it takes is on delayed or cancelled flight and you have clean-upsicles. and are out your money. Imo I would wait until spring or find somebody local.

Chipping will be after xmas and will be shipped overnight. my preference would be locally and i am trying that route as well (want to cover all my bases)

[rocco134]

Originally Posted by muck

X the Margarita snails as they do poorly longterm in our reefs

Personally I would go with something like this for a 120g... of course the amount of CUC you need is relative to the amount of waste your tank produces.

20 - Blueleg Hermits
10 - Redleg Hermits
20 - Astrea snails
10 - Cerith snails
30 - Red Banded Trochus
10 - Tongan Nassarius (only if you have a sandbed)
1 - Strawberry or Fighting Conch (only if you have a sandbed)

Hey Muck

thanks for the list! just to clarify, all should be reef safe, yes?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by rocco134

i was quoted $205 (shipping not included) for this package

80 blue leg hermit crabs
15 red leg hermit crabs
25 Astrea snails
25 Margarits snails
25 Cerith snails

any thoughts?

Holy mackerel that's a large clean up crew! Also, all those hermits will get very hungry in a couple weeks when all the food is gone, and they will start eating the snails. If you buy a CUC that size you will have a lot of dead inverts within a month. Although they are fantastic algae eaters, the Margaritas are a temperate genus, and won't survive long-term in your tank. Also make note that your CUC will add to your bioload. More CUC, less fish.

My tank is 3/4 the size of yours (it's a 90), to give you an idea of what you're looking for, I will list what's in mine (almost all the critters are a few years old):

- 5 Astraea snails (3 different specie, my fav film algae eaters)
- 1 Nassarius snail (the lone survivor, I've never had much long-term success with these guys mainly feed on uneaten food [scavenger])
- 2 Fighting Conchs (clean the sand of film algae and scavenge as well as stirs up detritus so filters can catch it)
- 1 Black Brittle starfish (does a good job cleaning the live rocks of detritus and is a scavenger)
- 2 Emerald crabs (pick at the rocks for filamentous algae, scavenger, and very minorly help with Valonia algae, take the place of hermits imo)

- Stomatella snails (clean rock and glass, great film algae eaters and scavengers)
- Mini brittle starfish (scavenger and detritus eaters)
- Asterina starfish (scavenger and film algae eaters, and maybe detritus too?)

If you get yourself a few Stomatella snails (usually only available from other reefers or often come in as hitchhikers on live rock or corals) they will breed in the tank on their own (my population started from 2), and their population will grow and shrink to accomodate the food supply which is very handy. Most ornamental shrimp (Fire, Cleaner, Peppermint, etc) will eat them though, particularly Peppermint, so keep that in mind if you want to keep the Stomatellas alive! Asterina and mini brittle starfish will come in as hitchhikers too. They will both stay small.

[rocco134]

Thanks Myka!

a lot of difference of opinion here. doesn't make things any easier ...

[muck]

Originally Posted by rocco134

Hey Muck

thanks for the list! just to clarify, all should be reef safe, yes?

Yes. All are reef safe.
I should clarify that my list is based on an established system that is moderately stocked. If your system is relatively new I would maybe cut back the qty some and add more as needed.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by rocco134

Thanks Myka!

a lot of difference of opinion here. doesn't make things any easier ...

I edited mine to add more information for you, take a peek back. Sorry I'm bad for that. I also agree with Muck that it's a good idea to start with a very lean CUC, and add to it if needed as time goes on. I would suggest it is probably not worth ordering a CUC (pay shipping on top of the purchase price) even if the cost per snail is higher on your local CUC. On that note, I have been considering adding another Emerald crab, but am so far undecided.

[Palmer]

Originally Posted by Myka

I edited mine to add more information for you, take a peek back. Sorry I'm bad for that. I also agree with Muck that it's a good idea to start with a very lean CUC, and add to it if needed as time goes on. I would suggest it is probably not worth ordering a CUC (pay shipping on top of the purchase price) even if the cost per snail is higher on your local CUC. On that note, I have been considering adding another Emerald crab, but am so far undecided.

Have you lost any fish to your emerald crabs? I was thinking of getting an emerald crab but have heard of a lot of bad experiences with them. I am set on getting a porcelaine crab (although technically not a crab and more closely related to a lobster from what I have read) and have heard they are fairly fish friendly as clawed crustaceans go.)

Palmer

[Myka]

I have never heard of a Mithrax crab killing any fish. Sometimes people blame a critter for killing a fish when he is merely scavanging an already dead fish. However, I'm on the fence with the Emeralds...the jury is still out. They have been well-behaved so far (over a year).