pcsimon
10/13/2008, 05:24 PM
For years I have had the mysterious disappearing livestock syndrome. Before anyone cries Mantis Shrimp, let me say that I have spent days looking for some sea monster or grim reaper that comes out at night, and trust me there isn't one. That leaves the animals that I know about. The likely culprits are my two green brittle star fish. They are going to the LFS for trade in, but what should I replace them with? I was thinking just a sand sifting star. Secondly, I initially had tons of hermit crabs AND snails. Guess what, now I only have hermit crabs. Its not that the crabs don't have enough shells, it seems like they just enjoy killing the snails to try out the new shell. I am thinking about getting rid of all the hermit crabs, because the large ones have also killed all the smaller hermit crabs. Does anyone have a snail only tank? Will a selection of snails work as a clean up crew? Let me know what you think. Also, any other inverts that I should consider putting in my tank? Right now, all I have is the brittle stars and probably 6 hermit crabs about .5-1.0 inches each. In terms of fish, two pink skunks and a royal gramma. Suffice to say, my 75 gal is lightly stocked!