Sand critters

[DonW]

I'm putting together a list of sand critters that can go in my tank.
What I'm looking for are sand dwellers only. Meaning they stay in the sand and do not crawl up the tank walls. Even fish that tend to stay in the sand or burrow would be fine. Any help or personal experience with a particular animal would be appreciated.

Also I'm planting rooted Halimeda, so Id rather they did not eat it.


Thanks
Don

 

[theJ]

I'm putting together a list of sand critters that can go in my tank.
What I'm looking for are sand dwellers only. Meaning they stay in the sand and do not crawl up the tank walls. Even fish that tend to stay in the sand or burrow would be fine. Any help or personal experience with a particular animal would be appreciated.

Also I'm planting rooted Halimeda, so Id rather they did not eat it.


Thanks
Don

Pistol Shrimp are fun, but need a goby to have confidence to come out during the day. They can throw sand up all over the place when they get bored though!

I like Peanut worms and sand dwelling snails like the Nassari, but thats prolly not what you were looking for

 

[ronj]

i use to have a sand sifting star..i think the tank needs to be really mature...they can run out of food if not

 

[DonW]

Pistol Shrimp are fun, but need a goby to have confidence to come out during the day. They can throw sand up all over the place when they get bored though!

I like Peanut worms and sand dwelling snails like the Nassari, but thats prolly not what you were looking for

Actually anything that will keep the sand stirred and will not starve in a clean tank. I dont have any experience with sand critter since Ive never had sand for very long. As long as they dont climb the tank walls and eat each other thats all that counts. I'm relying 100% on everyone personal experience.

Thanks
Don

 

[theJ]

The nasarius will climb the tank walls when you feed if they are REALLY hungry, about halfway up until they fall over/off and go somewhere else. They wont crawl out, thats for sure. Excellent sand stirrers. Also, we have a sand conch since day 1 that is kind of clumsy (runs into frag plugs) but he does a very good job of keeping the bottom 2 inches rock/glass clean, and probably the best sand stirrer out there. He is about 2" long. <- definitely will not climb the tank walls.

Is this for the overflowing rimless?

 

[DonW]

.

Is this for the overflowing rimless?

Yes, I just dont want anything to make its way over the top and back down the sides. With the upwell snails dont even realize they left the tank.

Don

 

[returnofsid]

Pistol Shrimp will do a great job of stirring the sand bed. I think Sand Sifting Stars would quickly starve. Sand Sifting Gobies would be fun. Unfortunately, I can't think of any snails that would be assured of staying in the sand. Horse Shoe Crabs would also be pretty cool. I also don't know of any Urchins that'd be assured of staying in the sand. Hopefully others with lots of experience will respond soon. Hope to see pics soon Don!!

 

[DonW]

Pistol Shrimp will do a great job of stirring the sand bed.

This one and the gobies mentioned there? Can you have a couple in the same tank?

http://www.etropicals.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=43&pCatId=1286

 

[Scooterman]

I used engineer gobies they love the sand but man do they get big, they eat shrimp when they get that big also.

 

[dnjan]

Find somebody who wants to get rid of their queen/fighting conch because it has gotten too big. At around 2 to 2-1/2 inches long, the shell becomes too heavy for them to "climb the walls".

 

[91YOTA]

what is the desired function of the sand bed? how deep are you planning the sand to be? a healthy sand bed needs a wide diversity of worms, chitons, pods, etc which a sand sifting star will deplete... nassarius snails will definately climb the walls but will not climb out... sand sifting gobies are pretty efficient at keeping the sand bed stirred but dont have much range away from their burrow... a pistol shrimp/goby pair can be fun to watch also but dont expect your snails/crabs to last long since the shrimp hunts them.... i would suggest as wide of a diversity of microfauna as possible rather than macrofauna... you wont see it, but it will be more beneficial in the long run

 

[DonW]

what is the desired function of the sand bed? how deep are you planning the sand to be? a healthy sand bed needs a wide diversity of worms, chitons, pods, etc which a sand sifting star will deplete... nassarius snails will definately climb the walls but will not climb out... sand sifting gobies are pretty efficient at keeping the sand bed stirred but dont have much range away from their burrow... a pistol shrimp/goby pair can be fun to watch also but dont expect your snails/crabs to last long since the shrimp hunts them.... i would suggest as wide of a diversity of microfauna as possible rather than macrofauna... you wont see it, but it will be more beneficial in the long run

All I want is the sand to be stirred. I hate dirty sand and want it to remain clean. Its only and inch or so deep, so is for nothing more than looks. Nassarius snails definatly climb right out so they are out. Heck the pods climb out but thats no big deal.

Don