Will these inverts all co-exist peacefully?

[maleks.reef]

I want to get a bunch of inverts for my 4 gal bowl reef build. It will be a soft coral only tank. No fish. No filters. Only a heater, pump, light and an ATO.

This is what i have in mind:
- Cleaner shrimp (already have)
- Pompom crab
- Snails (already have)
- 1 Rock flower anemone
- Red starfish (once the tank has settled in)
- Potentially another shrimp (coral banded or fire) but i dont know if that will be okay considering there is a cleaner shrimp already in there

Will all these little guys be okay living together in a 4 gal bowl? Thanks all in advance.

 

[Doctorgori]

Just a soft opinion but that might be slightly cramped for a larger skunk cleaner…

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Personally I would not put a starfish into a such a small tank. I would not mix 2 shrimps in that small tank. Even for inverts that a small tank, I kept a 5 gallon invert tank once, its very limited what you can add into such a small tank.

 

[henry92]

I was worried about getting a pom pom crab, but absolutely love it, hides up a lot, but turns into a game for me and my kids to try and spot it in the tank. All the more rewarding, keeps to itself and does not bother anything else. Makes a great addition

 

[fishywishy]

Technically they would be okay together, but that is still very cramped. starfish also need very stable parameters, and it’s very difficult to have that in such a small tank.

 

[maleks.reef]

Just a soft opinion but that might be slightly cramped for a larger skunk cleaner…

I agree, he is a quiet small right now though.

 

[maleks.reef]

Personally I would not put a starfish into a such a small tank. I would not mix 2 shrimps in that small tank. Even for inverts that a small tank, I kept a 5 gallon invert tank once, its very limited what you can add into such a small tank.

Yeah i agree. What about 2-3 sexy shrimp though? Would that be fine with the pompom crab and cleaner shrimp?

 

[maleks.reef]

Technically they would be okay together, but that is still very cramped. starfish need very stable parameters, and it’s very difficult to have that in such a small tank.

I am not worried about the parameters much, salinity and temperature are stable thanks to the ATO and heater. What I fear is that there may be not enough food for the starfish, especially in a smaller tank like this as you mentioned.

 

[fishywishy]

I am not worried about the parameters much, salinity and temperature are stable thanks to the ATO and heater. What I fear is that there may be not enough food for the starfish, especially in a smaller tank like this as you mentioned.

They require more than just stable salinity and heat. Any change in things like ph and nitrate will affect them. Also like you mentioned without supplemental feeding it will most likely starve in small tanks.

 

[Doctorgori]

Have you researched porcelain crabs? Not suggesting those are 100% options but maybe?
Pedersons cleaners ?
4gal makes things pretty tight regardless

 

[maleks.reef]

Have you researched pom pom and porcelain crabs? Not suggesting those are 100% options but maybe?

Pom pom yes, porcelain no. I intend on getting a pom-pom crab, pretty cool invert and i believe he'll do just fine in a tank this small. Other than the pom-pom, I think 2 or 3 sexy shrimp will be more than enough.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I wouldn't add 2-3 sexy shrimp on top of you already having a cleaner shrimp. It is going to be tight for space, and you could potentially have aggression issues

 

[maleks.reef]

I wouldn't add 2-3 sexy shrimp on top of you already having a cleaner shrimp. It is going to be tight for space, and you could potentially have aggression issues

Interesting. Might have to rehome the cleaner shrimp then. Thank you for the input.