Puffers/Triggers - What cleaning crew/invert will survive?

[filippo]

Hello,

Puffers eat anything, from snails to crabs and shrimps.

So, in a FOWLR tank, what cleaning crew could I add? Everything will be eaten, right?

Who is going to take care of the uneaten food if there is no cleaning crew (I understand that a great filtration system - protein skimmer, etc. - is necessary)?

A puffer, a niger trigger and some other fish would be great to have, but I am not sure if they'll be worth adding to my aquarium since I would like my tank to have snails, crabs, shrimps, and other inverts.

Any advice?

Thanks :)

[Patrick12]

Some of the triggers will not decimate a CUC like others will. Nigers, pinktails, crosshatch, bleeding hearts, blue throats and Hawaiian black triggers are LESS ravenous than some of the others. You will lose a few, but that is part of the cycle. Just know that you may have to replenish a little more often with a trigger. Some triggers will not touch anything and are model reef citizens. It just depends on how well you feed them and how lucky you are. For all we know about this hobby, there are still some things that are not absolute and require a little trial and error. Hope that helps. FWIW, I have had 3 nigers and none of them ever noticeably ate any of my inverts, but I have friends who have had a niger eat their inverts and some of their fish...so go figure. One of my nigers was 8 inches and didn't;t even bother the little clownfish. I did feed well though.

[josh holt]

what about starfish? they are great for eating left over food.

[filippo]

then would you recommend me to add snails and crabs to my tank even w/ puffers and triggers, even they'll risk their life? :)

who's gonna clean what crabs won't be cleaning because they're not present?

[megaspoot]

A sand sifting goby would be great, if the others don't attack it.

[ladyshark]

I understand that puffers will decimate an anemone--would this be true for a starfih also?

[TheSaltwaterGuy]

I like to use a clean-up crew called a You'rehand fish. :lol:

Like others have said, its really a hit or miss. I've had a 6" Niger that wouldn't hurt a fly. Yet, my LFS had one that would go after anything that was put into the tank, including their hands.

[reefergeorge]

I keep a full cuc with my humma humma, and 6" porcupine puffer. The trigger nips at some hermits, and snails, but the puffer is a model citizen. I have even had a cleaner shrimp with them for over a year. I understand they will probably start to eat them, but it seems natural to me.

[agreeive?fish]

Bristle worms will keep your tank clean as well....actually that is my only clean up crew in my FOWLR and i never have food left over and th4ey (bristle worms) pretty much self regulate thier population according to food avalability

[ckprax]

I have one really big hermit crab and he keeps everything in check. I also feed him silversides and shrimp twice a week b/c there really is no algae. I don't know what kind he is but his body is atleast three inches long, bright red with hairy legs and claws and he is in a five inch shell. I got it for free so I gave it a shot, however it will catch and eat small fish f they are slow or sick but my puffer leaves him alone.

[plancton]

What about urchins?, I´m thinking on going FISH ONLY.

[Patrick12]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12372952#post12372952 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by filippo
then would you recommend me to add snails and crabs to my tank even w/ puffers and triggers, even they'll risk their life? :)

who's gonna clean what crabs won't be cleaning because they're not present?

Many times the inverts will not get eaten and then they may be present to do their desired functions. It is a gamble, but one that is worth trying. A CUC won't break the bank and if you have a trigger or puffer that does not eat them, then you get what you want. Yes there is a risk, but I wouldn't call it one of the greatest risks most undertake in the hobby.

[filippo]

makes sense. thanks all :)

[Justin/TiV]

I never thought about the cucumbers...I took all craps, starfish, small fish, snails, shrimps...but left the tiger tail cucumbers in....is there any fish that will eat these. So far just 2 angels, 2 eels, and a puffer, but I will be adding triggers soon

[reaganfan]

Mexican Turbo Snails work well since their size is big.

[LisaD]

I live in NC, and collected a few big hermit crabs near a dock. One of them is in a tank with a zebra moray, Brazilian dragon moray, puffer, trigger and a grouper. The hermit is in a shell about half the size of my fist (so not huge) and no one has ever bothered it. The fish are all well fed, though...