The Cleanup Crew ... Various other Snails and Crabs


The ultimate yard-work team!


These guys all do a great job of getting at the junk no one else wants! They do it all, from cleaning the glass, to clearing detritus off the rocks and gravel. Constantly busy!

Sometimes I find these guys more entertaining to watch that the fish or corals.

The Hermit Crabs

(Clibanarius sp.)

The hermits are just a trip. Between their constant clumsiness (for no reason, just falling off stuff) and their petty fighting (punching the crap out of each other, in the hopes of getting a new shell they'll get bored of in minutes), they are just the rodeo clows of the tank.

I know this pictures really blurry, and I'm sorry...but the look on this guys face,
I think outweights the lack of clarity. Just goofy!

For now, the hermits don't fight seriously for new shells. They throw a few punches, then move on. But if you don't dump bigger empty shells in the tank from time to time, they will get pretty ruthless!
Definitely the busy bodies of the tank, I feel bad I don't pay them anything!

Here's a nice close-up of the biggest one in the tank. He has changed shells quite a few times.
Here he is in his newest shell.


The Snails

(Astraea tecta)

The snails don't move so fast, but what they lack in speed, I think they make up for in beauty. Due to how slow they move, algae ends up growing on their shells. Which eventually leads to Coralline (purple/red/green-blue algae).

This picture gives you a good idea of what I'm talking about
when I say their shells can get some nice algae on them!
You can see green algae, various purples. VERY colorful!



In contrast, this is what the snails looked like when I first got them.
All shiny, white, and brand spankin new!



Here's a larger version of the thumbnail at the top.
You can see the mouth, eyes, and general form of the snail,
as well as a goofy hermit nearby.


There's currently 6 Turbo Snails, and over 20 Hermit crabs, as well as Speedy.


Added to the tank on February 23rd, 2005 from Congressional Aquarium..

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Last updated 6/22/05