Cleanup crew resistant to Picasso Trigger

[static416]

Love my Picasso trigger. It's like a puppy at this point, I can literally cup it in my hand.

However, it has assassinated almost all of the Trochus snails in it's tank, as well as the small tuxedo urchins. I think the Emerald crabs are toast too.

For the moment, the large Halloween Pincushin Urchin seems to be ok.

As a result, I'm starting to get some minor algae growth on the rocks in a way that I don't have in the other tank in the same system with snails.

Any recommendations on what might work here? Or do I just accept that the cleaning crew is going to double as an ongoing food source and needs constant replacement?

 

[smitten with ocean life]

@littlefoxx didnt you say that you have one of these?

 

[CBonito]

Unfortunately, Picassos are eaters man, and if they can eat it, they will.

 

[mpatterson42]

I recently added money cowries in my system that has a toby puffer. The puffer will flip them but the opening is very small and I don't think he can get in there. It's pretty much trial and error with these kinds of fish.

 

[bluemon]

Serpent stars.

Chitons

Tropical Abalone

 

[static416]

These are good ideas, I'll try those.

Especially the smaller inverts, because the smaller snails get picked off quickly.

 

[bluemon]

These are good ideas, I'll try those.

Especially the smaller inverts, because the smaller snails get picked off quickly.

Yea I know it won’t touch the serpent stars but they won’t eat algae.

Chitons are the sturdiest of the snails and are quite hard to get off surfaces so should be mostly safe.

Same with abalones.

Limpets might also be worth trying.

Have you tried long spine urchins? They should be safer than tuxedo or pincushion

 

[static416]

Long spine would work, and I like them. But almost certainly spear my eel by accident.

Limpets I'll avoid, they started munching on my SPS previously. Basically completely consumed some frags. Took me awhile to realize what was happening.

But money cowries would work.

 

[bluemon]

Long spine would work, and I like them. But almost certainly spear my eel by accident.

Limpets I'll avoid, they started munching on my SPS previously. Basically completely consumed some frags. Took me awhile to realize what was happening.

But money cowries would work.

If you get the right type, the limpets only eat algae.

Keyhole limpets can eat coral which is what you must have had

 

[static416]

Keyhole limpets can eat coral which is what you must have had

Yup. Hard to remove too. Had to pry it out with a screwdriver.