Top 5 invertebrates perfect for beginners!
- Mar 04, 2021
- Anshika Mishra
- 551 0 0
Invertebrates are some of the most beautiful and captivating creatures that we can keep in our home aquarium but this makes choosing the right ones extremely difficult. So, in this article, we will be discussing the top 5-invertebrates that are perfect for beginners starting in the saltwater aquarium hobby according to CoralFish12g.
Making the right decision
Choosing good inverts is a little bit typical mainly because people get them to serve a variety of different purposes. Some people buy them because they just want to add a bit more beauty to their tank while others want to get them to fix some very specific issues that their tank is facing.
But what the majority of the beginners should focus on is buying hardy inverts that do not just look attractive but also serve as a cleanup crew to help maintain a healthy and balanced reef tank.
1. Tuxedo Urchins
These are peaceful and reef-safe Urchins that are guaranteed to vigorously graze on all sorts of algae in the tank. They make the quick source of the dirty tanks and if your tank ever gets too clean and runs out of things for them to eat, you can always just toss a few pieces of seaweed.
Tuxedo Urchins are very low maintenance and are close to 100% reef safe. They do not get bigger than 2-3 inches, but they will definitely be noticed and make good conversation of those already in your tank.
It looks really funny when they cover themselves in algae which serves as camouflage. They have hundreds of spines and two feet constantly sensing their surroundings which helps them avoid bulldozing rocks and corals like other Urchins.
If you cannot get hold of any Tuxido Urchesn, the Pincushion Urchins looks almost similar to them can be a great second choice.
2. Fire Shrimp
These shrimps, without any questions, are one of the most vibrant and attractive species of inverts available. People often perfect Fire Shrimp over the cleaner shrimp because it seems to spend more time scavenging for leftover food rather than tank cleaning parasites and excess tissue off a fish.
Fire Shrimp will be a little bit shyer in the bigger tank and will like to spend most of their time in the rockwork. If you have the extra cash, you should go for the fire shrimps, but either way cleaner shrimps are also a great scavenger, heavy to care for, and would make a really cool addition to any reef tank.
3. Trochus Snails
Most of the beginners don't usually pay attention to the first types of snails they get, but certain types like Chika snails can actually make a huge difference. Also called Turbine snails, these are easy to care for and are very good at feeding on algae, Cyanobacteria, and Diatoms amongst live rocks, substrate, and aquarium glass.
These are a bit more pricy than other snails, but will breed more often and can actually flip themselves back over after the fall which is a huge advantage.
They really are the best in the business for cleaning your tank until it's spotless, which makes them worth the extra coin. If you can then try to get the smaller ones, they can get in between frag plugs and hard-to-reach places.
You can get one of these for every 2-3 gallons of your aquarium water. They are a very peaceful snail and other crabs can not eat them up because of their shell's unique shape.
4. Copepods
This choice might surprise you, but Copepods are actually one of the most underrated inverts that you can provide for your saltwater tank. These tiny organisms are a natural part of the food chain and they graze of phytoplankton, bacteria, and in some cases Detritus which all help in cleaning your tank up. They are also a natural food resource for different fishes, especially the Gobies.
Introducing them can be a very beneficial way to prove the health of your reef tank. These can easily be both online and in one of the best places.
5. Nassarius Snails
Nassarius Snails are without a doubt the most popular invert in the hobby because of their killer reputation of keeping the sandbeds clean. They burrow in your sand beds with only their snorkels striking out and when they detect food, they will quickly emerge and chase after. Their constant movement over the substrate will keep your sand stirred and looking clean. This also helps create the sand which helps prevent the growth of slime algae or Cyanobacteria on the substrate surface.
These snails have a very fun personality, they are a very peaceful invert, they don't get bigger than about an inch and they last for a really long time. So, they will make a great addition to any reef tank with the sandbed.
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