snails and crabs

[littlereef]

Our clean up crew keeps dying! We started with about 10 snails and 10 crab. All died and we replaced with 5 each. Currently only have 3 crab and 1 snail left from thats second batch. Any ideas why they are dying?

 

[TheTodd]

Give details on your tank, size, setup, other inhabitants, parameters, etc.

 

[littlereef]

25g
1 royal gramma
2 chromis
1 goby and pistol shrimp
1 cleaner shrimp
Unknown amount serpent sea stars (possibly 2 ,came with live rock )

 

[Keithhjs]

Have you ruled out another predator such as a mantis shrimp?

 

[littlereef]

Mantis shrimp? We don't have one of those.

 

[Keithhjs]

Mantis shrimp? We don't have one of those.

Mantis shrimps are usually received as hitchhikers that are unwanted guests. How old is the tank? Do you hear any "clicking" noises? If so google them & you will see what I was referring to.

 

[littlereef]

Ok thanks i will google it. We hear clicking but we have a pistol shrimp that we thought was making that noise. I am pretty sure they were dying before we got the pistol shrimp though. Hmmm

 

[Beengirl]

Was your LR from a store or someone else's tank? If from someone else's tank, are you sure it was never treated with copper? What are amm, Trites and Trates? Specific gravity?

 

[Keithhjs]

Ok thanks i will google it. We hear clicking but we have a pistol shrimp that we thought was making that noise. I am pretty sure they were dying before we got the pistol shrimp though. Hmmm

I've never had my pistols kill anything except one once killed another (I believe) but I have heard that they will hunt if not kept we'll fed. Maybe they contributed to the deaths.

 

[Beengirl]

Yeah, I put food in my pistols burrow every day. He still kills a snail here and there. That's nature, it sucks to be slow and defenseless in nature.