| ~ Snails ~ Worms ~ Copepods ~ Amphipods ~ Shrimp ~ Mini Stars ~ Micro Stars ~ Tunicates ~ These are the best invertebrates for the hobbyist's aquarium. They are reef safe and do not out compete each other for available nutrients. They all scavenge on different levels or in different ways so they complement each other -- each having their place in the ecosystem. It's best to avoid large detritivores which diminish the ecosystem. You don't want detritivores that eat detritivores! |
| Large Cerith snails |
| Cerith snails - small |
| Bristleworms |
| Stomatella valaria snails |
| Spaghetti worms |
| Peppermint shrimp |
| Turbo Snails |
| Micro stars |
| Copepods |
| Mini stars |
| Mysid shrimp |
| Gammarus shrimp |
| Nassarius vibex snails |
| Cleaner Shrimp |
Nassarius vibex snails are one of the best
snails to have in a marine aquarium. They
live in the sand and stick their siphons out
snails to have in a marine aquarium. They
live in the sand and stick their siphons out
smelling the water for food. If food is added to the tank a small army of snails quickly emerges. You will find
them climbing the glass to determine where the smell of food is coming from -- then they drop off and go for it!
Their interesting personalities are cute to watch. They eat algae, excess food and decaying organic material.
them climbing the glass to determine where the smell of food is coming from -- then they drop off and go for it!
Their interesting personalities are cute to watch. They eat algae, excess food and decaying organic material.
| A must if you have a DSB! Use at least 1 for each pound of sand you have. |
| The BEST sand sifter in the hobby !!! |
Cerith snails are great algae eaters. They prefer rockwork
or will hang out on the aquarium glass. This species does
not get very large and so they can get into places larger
detritivores can not. They do an excellent job eating hair
algae and diatoms.
These are a 'must have' for any size aquarium.
Depending on the other snails you intend to keep, a
general rule of thumb is one small Cerith per gallon. You
would need more or less depending on the amount of
rockwork you have as well.
or will hang out on the aquarium glass. This species does
not get very large and so they can get into places larger
detritivores can not. They do an excellent job eating hair
algae and diatoms.
These are a 'must have' for any size aquarium.
Depending on the other snails you intend to keep, a
general rule of thumb is one small Cerith per gallon. You
would need more or less depending on the amount of
rockwork you have as well.
| They get into the smaller crevaces in the rockwork. |
| Great algae eaters !!! |
Adult Mysid shrimp are about
the size of 1/2 a grain of rice.
The photo's are our own and
were taken under very high
magnification. The babies to
the right are mere dots to the
naked eye. You find the
"swarm" easier then
individuals. They breed fairly
easily and adding them to the
system will add many benefits.
They are even fun to watch in
their own right !
the size of 1/2 a grain of rice.
The photo's are our own and
were taken under very high
magnification. The babies to
the right are mere dots to the
naked eye. You find the
"swarm" easier then
individuals. They breed fairly
easily and adding them to the
system will add many benefits.
They are even fun to watch in
their own right !
These are live
saltwater mysid
shrimp. They
are an excellent
source of live
food for most
fish and will
also be a part of
the clean-up
crew!
saltwater mysid
shrimp. They
are an excellent
source of live
food for most
fish and will
also be a part of
the clean-up
crew!
| Live food for Mandarin fish and Seahorses ! |
| They breed in your system !!! |
These worms live in tubes
they build in the sandbed
or in rocks. As they move
in and out of the tube they
circulate water within that
medium. They eat debris
and spread through out
the system. Butterfly fish,
particularly the
Copperband, love to eat
them.
they build in the sandbed
or in rocks. As they move
in and out of the tube they
circulate water within that
medium. They eat debris
and spread through out
the system. Butterfly fish,
particularly the
Copperband, love to eat
them.
Each picture has one
worm. They have many
tentacles they extend
out of their tube to pull
food in. They are 1" -
2" in length.
worm. They have many
tentacles they extend
out of their tube to pull
food in. They are 1" -
2" in length.
| They eat uneaten food and waste! |
Bristleworms are by far one of the most important and effective
detritivores in the hobby. They eat anything!
These guys will take care of uneaten fish food, fish waste, eat
different algae's and make quick work of any dead fish. They are reef
safe and are live food for wrasse and other fish.
They are a very important part of a diverse marine ecosystem.
detritivores in the hobby. They eat anything!
These guys will take care of uneaten fish food, fish waste, eat
different algae's and make quick work of any dead fish. They are reef
safe and are live food for wrasse and other fish.
They are a very important part of a diverse marine ecosystem.
| Very cute algae eater that is out in plain sight during the day !!! |
These little guys only get about as big as a dime. They are varying white/brown tones and are
easily spotted out during the day. They tend to eat algae on the glass and rocks but I also
find them scavaging in the rubble for other food. The multipy easily and you will find 2,3,4 and
5 leg pieces crawling away from each other after splitting! They help maintain a diverse
ecosystem.
easily spotted out during the day. They tend to eat algae on the glass and rocks but I also
find them scavaging in the rubble for other food. The multipy easily and you will find 2,3,4 and
5 leg pieces crawling away from each other after splitting! They help maintain a diverse
ecosystem.
| Fits into small crevaces in rubble and on rocks ! |
Another Great Algae
eater !!
eater !!
These are a
different species
of Cerith then the
one's above. But
as Ceriths, they
are also great
algae eaters.
They prefer
rockwork or the
aquarium glass
too. They eat
more then the
smaller snails and
are nocturnal.
different species
of Cerith then the
one's above. But
as Ceriths, they
are also great
algae eaters.
They prefer
rockwork or the
aquarium glass
too. They eat
more then the
smaller snails and
are nocturnal.
| They breed regularly laying egg sacks on the glass and rocks! |
Nassarius vibex snails
Large Cerith
snails
<200 $1.29/ each
200+ $1.19/ each
snails
<200 $1.29/ each
200+ $1.19/ each
Feather Duster Worms
| Beautiful filter feeders that clean the water! |
Feather duster worms will build their own tube to live
in. It's beautiful feather duster crown is attached to
it's face and it extends it out of the tube to filter feed.
There are many different types from the small hard
calcium tubed beauties you find on live rock to the
giant Hawaiian Feather Duster. These are stripped
medium sized and most appropriate in a refugium.
The average adult's crown gets about as big as a
quarter. They multiply easily and make a refuge steal
the show! You've heard people talk about finding a
refuge as interesting as the main tank -- THIS is what
their talking about! And let's not forget that they filter
small particulate matter and even bacteria out of the
water column.
in. It's beautiful feather duster crown is attached to
it's face and it extends it out of the tube to filter feed.
There are many different types from the small hard
calcium tubed beauties you find on live rock to the
giant Hawaiian Feather Duster. These are stripped
medium sized and most appropriate in a refugium.
The average adult's crown gets about as big as a
quarter. They multiply easily and make a refuge steal
the show! You've heard people talk about finding a
refuge as interesting as the main tank -- THIS is what
their talking about! And let's not forget that they filter
small particulate matter and even bacteria out of the
water column.
| One $2.99 Five $12.99 Ten $22.99 |
| Colorful and COOL They really bring the landscape to life |
| They circulate water in the sandbed and the rockwork ! |
Mysid shrimp - saltwater
breeding colony $29.99
breeding colony $29.99
| Live shrimp that reproduce in your system. Meat eating fish love them!! |
| Live Gammarus shrimp breeding colony $19.99 |
Live Gammarus shrimp
are algae eating shrimp
that will eat nuisance
algae and live within
macroalgae. They'll be
all over the rockwork at
night.
Fish love scavenging
for them through out the
day.
are algae eating shrimp
that will eat nuisance
algae and live within
macroalgae. They'll be
all over the rockwork at
night.
Fish love scavenging
for them through out the
day.
Live
Bristleworms
$1/each
Bristleworms
$1/each
Micro stars $2.50/ each
Mini stars $2.50/ each
| Mini Brittle Stars -- Mini Serpant Stars Awesome detritivores -- they eat waste and detris! Live food for grazers! Add color and DIVERSITY !! |
Micro stars live in the
rockwork, rubble and
rubble substrate. They're
legs stick out and wave in
the current sweeping for
detris. They come as mini
serpant stars and mini
brittle stars and vary in
colors. Fish pick at them
and they add diversity to
the ecosystem.
rockwork, rubble and
rubble substrate. They're
legs stick out and wave in
the current sweeping for
detris. They come as mini
serpant stars and mini
brittle stars and vary in
colors. Fish pick at them
and they add diversity to
the ecosystem.
Cleaner Shrimp $29.99
Peppermint Shrimp $8.99/ each
Live Copepods
breeding colony $19.99
breeding colony $19.99
Live Spaghetti Worms $3.99
Turbo Snails $1.29/ each
| Small Cerith Snails < 200 $1.00/ each 200+ $0.90/ each |
| GREAT ALGAE EATERS !! One of the best algae eating snails that breed and diversify the ecosystem tremendously !! |
They breed constantly adding eggs and very small babies to the system
that fish and other inverts eat. These are a key component to adding live
food to the bottom of the food chain. Some wil survive to adulthood and
you will find a DIVERSITY of snail sizes and colorful shells!
that fish and other inverts eat. These are a key component to adding live
food to the bottom of the food chain. Some wil survive to adulthood and
you will find a DIVERSITY of snail sizes and colorful shells!