Snails and Hermit crabs

[jamesm]

I was going to try putting some snails or a Hermit crab in my FOWLR tank. The tank consist of a Picasso Trigger, Blue Throat Trigger, Stars and Strip Puffer, Emperator Angel, Yellow Tang, Harlequin Tusk, and a Fire Shrimp. Are these fish just going to make a meal out of the Snails or Crab or do they have a chance at surviving?

 

[WindeyD]

What is your purpose for wanting to add the snails/crabs? If it's for CUC purposes many people use long spine urchins in aggressive tanks as their spines make them a difficult meal.

 

[Marshall O]

Your best bet would be to try and put them in at night. If you put them in during the day, they will make a nice meal :) For snails, I would get larger Turbo snails.

 

[jamesm]

Was looking for a scavenger to clean the sand bed.

 

[Marshall O]

Someone else would need to confirm, but a Tigertail Cucumber may be an option. I am just not positive if any of your existing fish would go after it.

 

[Humblefish]

Almost every fish you listed will eat snails/hermits. Especially the triggers and that tusk.

 

[LetItReef]

Was looking for a scavenger to clean the sand bed.

Conch, with its size I don't think they will become a meal.

 

[Waters]

As Humblefish stated, those fish will quickly make a meal out of every snail/crab you put in there.

 

[jamesm]

I talked to somebody at one of my local fish stores that I deal with and he said he would be glad to sell me the snails if I wanted but they would become a meal. I passed. I haven't had any in the tank since I set it up over eight years ago so I guess I can live without them. I have a reef tank which I have a number of them and that is where they will stay.

 

[scardall]

Use a carbon/GFO reactor and Mex. turbo's.( till they fall and expose there foot) good luck

 

[Rosekeeper]

I have a porcupine puffer, yellow tang, and pink tailed trigger...among others. Long spined urchin worked very well along with Trocus and turbo snails. I would not recommend shrimps or crab. For sand, I have a diamond goby and no one bothers him either