Coral Care Hub Cleanup Crew Choose the right workers for the job: algae grazers, leftover-food scavengers and sand-surface feeders have different needs.
Useful : a practical addition when properly fed. Caution : specialist care or compatibility risks. Start small and add only what your reef can sustain; cleanup animals recycle waste rather than exporting nutrients. Maintain filtration and routine cleaning.
Adult sizes are approximate: snail sizes describe shells, crab sizes state the measurement used, and star sizes include arms. Confirm the supplier’s species, acclimate to matched conditions and quarantine appropriately; do not use coral dips on cleanup animals.
Written by Christian, Signature Frags · Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
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Hermit crabs
Snails & conches
Crabs & shrimp
Urchins
Sand & specialist
Small cleanup fauna
Showing 1–12 of 31 cards · Page 1 of 3
Scarlet reef hermit reference photograph.
Scarlet reef hermit
Useful
Paguristes cadenati
Usually a gentle grazer; every hermit still carries some snail risk.
Quick ID Bright red legs and yellow eyestalks. Confirm the species: “red leg” is also used for other hermits.
Typical adult size About 2–3 cm across the exposed animal; shell adds bulk.
Useful work Picks at short filamentous algae, biofilm and leftover food on rock.
Feeding & care Offer varied empty shells and small algae-based or marine foods when natural grazing is sparse.
Best fit A small mixed cleanup crew with adequate food and space.
Watch out for Can take snail shells or fight other hermits. Spare shells reduce competition but cannot guarantee snail safety. Research sources
Dwarf blue-leg hermit reference photograph.
Dwarf blue-leg hermit
Caution
Clibanarius tricolor
Useful small scavenger; snail-shell theft is a real trade-off.
Quick ID Blue legs with coloured banding; tiny crab living in a borrowed snail shell.
Typical adult size About 2–3 cm including occupied shell; varies with shell choice.
Useful work Grazes algae films and short filaments, and picks up leftover food.
Feeding & care Provide several suitable spare shells per crab; feed small mixed marine foods if the aquarium becomes too clean.
Best fit Rockwork and sand margins; stock lightly rather than buying a large fixed package.
Watch out for May kill snails or evict smaller hermits. Do not assume its small size makes it harmless. Research sources
Electric blue / blue-knuckle hermit reference photograph.
Electric blue / blue-knuckle hermit
Caution
Calcinus elegans
A colourful worker with stronger claws than tiny dwarf hermits.
Quick ID Electric blue walking legs with dark bands; spotted claws and vivid antennae.
Typical adult size Around 4–5 cm with shell; larger than most dwarf hermits.
Useful work Picks at filamentous algae and scavenges food on rock and rubble.
Feeding & care Supply larger spare shells and mixed algae-based and meaty marine foods; secure frags.
Best fit Established reefs with room to forage and robust tankmates.
Watch out for May attack snails, bully small hermits or disturb unsecured frags. Research sources
Dwarf zebra / left-handed hermit reference photograph.
Dwarf zebra / left-handed hermit
Caution
Calcinus laevimanus
Useful omnivore; monitor shell competition.
Quick ID Black-and-white banded legs and a noticeably larger left claw.
Typical adult size Usually around 2–3 cm with shell; shell dimensions vary.
Useful work Grazes films and short algae and searches crevices for food scraps.
Feeding & care Offer differently shaped spare shells and small marine foods when grazing is limited.
Best fit A lightly stocked mixed crew on rockwork.
Watch out for The large claw can evict snails or smaller hermits. “Zebra hermit” names are not always species-specific. Research sources
Mexican red-leg hermit reference photograph.
Mexican red-leg hermit
Caution
Clibanarius digueti
Small scavenger; distinguish it from the scarlet reef hermit.
Quick ID Reddish legs and conspicuous blue-toned eyes; shop names overlap with other red hermits.
Typical adult size Roughly 2–3 cm with shell; approximate aquarium size.
Useful work Picks at algae films, short filaments and leftover food.
Feeding & care Provide spare shells and a mixed marine diet as needed; observe individual behaviour.
Best fit Rockwork and rubble in a small, well-fed mixed crew.
Watch out for Can compete for shells and harass snails. Red legs alone do not confirm the species. Research sources
Halloween hermit reference photograph.
Halloween hermit
Caution
Ciliopagurus strigatus
A larger, more disruptive omnivore rather than a default nano cleaner.
Quick ID Orange-red and pale bands around the legs; often occupies a cone-shaped shell.
Typical adult size Around 5–6 cm with shell; allow additional room for its reach.
Useful work Scavenges food and grazes some algae over rock and sand.
Feeding & care Supply suitable elongated spare shells, mixed marine foods and firmly fixed frags.
Best fit Larger established reefs where its behaviour can be monitored.
Watch out for Can kill snails, compete with other hermits and shift loose frags. Individual reef compatibility varies. Research sources
Shell identification reference. Living animals may carry algae or other encrustation.
Banded trochus snail
Useful
Trochus spp.; Trochus radiatus reference
A practical grazer; buy a confirmed tropical aquarium species.
Quick ID Conical top-shaped shell, often with red-brown bands. Several species are sold as “trochus”.
Typical adult size Common aquarium species about 2–4 cm shell width; larger top shells also exist.
Useful work Grazes diatoms, biofilm and short algae on glass and rock.
Feeding & care Provide established grazing surfaces; offer algae-based food if natural growth becomes scarce.
Best fit A core glass-and-rock grazer, including smaller reefs.
Watch out for Long hair algae and established pests may be ignored. Many can right themselves, but trapped animals still need help. Research sources
Shell identification reference. Living animals may carry algae or other encrustation.
Chestnut / tectus snail
Useful
Tectus fenestratus
A rock-and-glass grazer with a pointed shell.
Quick ID Tall, ribbed conical shell with brown or chestnut patterning. Also sold under assorted “turbo” names.
Typical adult size About 3–5 cm shell height; supplier size descriptions vary.
Useful work Consumes surface algae films and diatoms on hard surfaces.
Feeding & care Maintain a mature algae supply; supplement with suitable algae foods and right stranded animals.
Best fit Rock-heavy reefs needing additional film grazing.
Watch out for Can struggle if wedged upside down, and may move very small unsecured frags. Research sources
Shell identification reference. Living animals may carry algae or other encrustation.
Astraea / astrea snail
Useful
Lithopoma tectum; formerly Astraea tecta
Good film grazer; check overturned animals.
Quick ID Low conical shell with raised ridges; rough or star-like outline. Other species share the shop name.
Typical adult size About 2–4 cm shell width for commonly sold forms.
Useful work Grazes diatoms and algae films on glass and rock.
Feeding & care Place on a stable surface, check regularly and provide algae-based food when grazing runs low.
Best fit Rock and glass; less convenient where snails repeatedly fall onto broad sand beds.
Watch out for Often struggles to recover on flat sand after falling. Do not leave an overturned snail exposed. Research sources
Turbo fluctuosus shell identification reference. Confirm species and temperature suitability before purchase.
Turbo snail
Caution
Turbo spp.; T. fluctuosus shell reference
Strong grazer; shell size and temperature suitability depend on species.
Quick ID Rounded turban-shaped shell and broad muscular foot. “Turbo” is a trade label used for several genera.
Typical adult size Often 3–7 cm shell width; some species grow considerably larger.
Useful work Grazes algae films and short filamentous growth on hard surfaces.
Feeding & care Fix frags firmly, keep sufficient algae and supplement herbivore foods if accepted.
Best fit Established reefs with secure rockwork and room for a larger grazer.
Watch out for Can bulldoze frags. Some traded turbos come from cooler habitats; ask for species and collection origin. Research sources
Shell identification reference. Living animals may carry algae or other encrustation.
Cerith snail
Useful
Cerithium spp.; C. litteratum reference
A useful small grazer for rock and the upper sand surface.
Quick ID Long pointed shell with knobbly spiral ridges; often most active after dark.
Typical adult size Common aquarium species about 2–4 cm shell length; dwarf forms are smaller.
Useful work Consumes algae films, diatoms and organic particles; works sand margins and crevices.
Feeding & care Provide fine sand and mature grazing surfaces; add small suitable foods if natural feeding is inadequate.
Best fit Mixed reefs with sand, rock and tight spaces.
Watch out for Hermits may take its shell. Buried daytime resting does not automatically mean it is dead. Research sources
Shell identification reference. Living animals may carry algae or other encrustation.
Small nassarius scavenger
Useful
Phrontis vibex; sold as Nassarius vibex
A leftover-food scavenger, not an algae eater.
Quick ID Small sculptured shell; a long siphon protrudes from the sand as the animal detects food.
Typical adult size Usually about 1–2 cm shell length.
Useful work Finds meaty food scraps and carrion; moves the upper sand as it emerges.
Feeding & care Provide sand to burrow in and small meaty marine foods when leftovers are insufficient.
Best fit Fed sand-bed reefs where uneaten food occasionally reaches the substrate.
Watch out for Cannot live on algae. Large “Tonga nassarius” are different species; avoid unidentified predatory look-alikes. Research sources
