[Blackjacktang]

I want to know. wich do a better cleaning job. Snails or red leg hermit crabs.

[ncdiablo]

Honestly I think both are probably good to have, but if you were only going with one then I would stick with snails.

The reason: the sides of the tank. Snails win this hands down.

If I was going purely with snails my team would look like this:

Abalone (for hair algea)
Bumblebee snails
Cernith snails
Super Tongan Narcissus snails
Nerite snails
Virgin Nerite snails
Not my pick but I understand that turbo snails would be good too. So throwing them into the list for others.

If I was going with hermit crabs I would go with:

Dwarf blue leg hermit crab
Dwarf zebra hermit crab
Dwarf yellow tip hermit crab
Halloween hermit crabs
Electric blue hermit crabs

I personally am picking a bit between the two.

You may ask why I went with mainly dwarf crabs. Less damage to corals as they move around over them and less chance they take out a shrimp or a fish due to them being small.

[Krazy]

This thread has been moved to the current forum.

[cplklegg]

Snails all the way. I no longer mess with hermits. They get big and mean and tear up everything ...eventually, IMO. I would second the ceriths and nassarius and mini-turbos.

[Tonz of fun]

You need a mixture of both. I dont like snails at all but they do a better job, they can also get the glass for you...

[rlcline76]

Both. I like having a well rounded CUC. Snails do well with the glass and the rocks...nassaurius snails rock for the substrate...a must have! The hermits regulate their own poplation by murdering each other for shells. They do well on the rocks and on top of the sand bed. Great for leftover food scraps and if something dies, they help the natural process of decomposition.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

For two years I had a tank with nothing in it but the large salt water hermit crabs.You know the ones with shells that weigh 4 ounces and there not quite big enough to eat.I dont think I have ever observed a more violent bunch of critters (not counting humans) in my life.I wouldnt expect much less from the little guys.

[ncdiablo]

Ok now from my new experience. I have both hermits and snails. I like them both. However, snails seem to be better cleaners of algea then hermits, however I like watching hermits clean better than I do snails. The only exception would be my current bumblebee snails due to their nose going around looking for stuff to eat. I am going to get one or two conchs (reef friendly versions) for the same reason as bumblebees.

I love how well my astrea snails clean and I will get some pyramid snails here soon too.

I love the variety.

However I will have around 20 bumblebees in my tank because I love them the best.