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 13–24 of 31 cards · Page 2 of 3
Shell identification reference. Living animals may carry algae or other encrustation.
Strawberry / tiger conch
Useful
Conomurex luhuanus; formerly Strombus luhuanus
A sand-surface grazer that needs enough open, productive substrate.
Quick ID Stout patterned shell, long feeding proboscis and eyes on stalks; moves with a hopping action.
Typical adult size Around 5–8 cm shell length; larger species are sold under similar names.
Useful work Grazes diatoms, films and organic material on the upper sand surface.
Feeding & care Provide open fine sand and supplementary algae-based food if accepted; monitor body condition.
Best fit Mature sand-bed reefs with ample uncovered grazing area.
Watch out for May starve in a new or spotless tank. Not a glass cleaner and not a deep-sand replacement. Research sources
Stomatella impertusa: a live snail with its small shell and exposed soft body. Identification follows the source observation.
Stomatella snail
Useful
Stomatella spp.
Useful reproducing grazer; commonly shared by reefkeepers.
Quick ID Slug-like body with a small flattened ear-shaped shell; moves quickly for a snail.
Typical adult size Often 1–3 cm overall; species vary.
Useful work Grazes fine algae and biofilm over rock, especially at night.
Feeding & care Keep mature rock and protected crevices; usually thrives on natural films when predators are limited.
Best fit Established reefs; often acquired from a trusted hobbyist rather than a retail cleanup pack.
Watch out for Wrasses, shrimp and crabs may eat them. Avoid pulling an attached animal by its body. Research sources
Bumblebee snail reference photograph.
Bumblebee snail
Caution
Engina mendicaria
A carnivore rather than a general algae cleaner.
Quick ID Small sturdy shell with alternating dark and pale/yellow bands.
Typical adult size Usually around 1–2 cm shell length.
Useful work Scavenges meaty particles and may prey on small invertebrates.
Feeding & care Offer small meaty marine foods; never rely on algae to sustain it.
Best fit A deliberate specialist addition where its predatory diet is acceptable.
Watch out for Can eat useful worms or other small animals. Vermetid-control results are variable and not a reliable cure. Research sources
Living money cowrie with its mantle extending over the shell.
Money cowrie
Useful
Monetaria moneta
A small algae grazer; confirm the species rather than buying an unidentified cowrie.
Quick ID Small cream-to-yellowish cowrie with a glossy, somewhat angular shell. Its living mantle can cover the shell.
Typical adult size Usually about 2–3 cm shell length; around 3.2 cm at the larger end.
Useful work Grazes film algae and diatoms from rock and glass, with some short filamentous growth.
Feeding & care Provide mature grazing surfaces and supplement dried seaweed or suitable algae foods if needed. Protect from snail-eating fish.
Best fit Mature reefs needing a small nocturnal grazer; stock according to food supply.
Watch out for Can starve when grazing runs low; check overturned animals. Larger cowrie species have different diets and reef risks. Research sources
Living gold-ring cowrie reference photograph; the mantle can conceal its shell markings.
Gold-ring / ring cowrie
Useful
Monetaria annulus
A useful small grazer; trade names often overlap with money cowries.
Quick ID Smooth, oval glossy shell often marked by a yellow-orange ring. The mantle can hide the ring; colour alone is unreliable.
Typical adult size Commonly about 2–3 cm shell length; some specimens grow larger.
Useful work Grazes algae films, diatoms and some short filamentous growth, mostly after dark.
Feeding & care Provide established rockwork, daytime shelter and algae foods when natural grazing becomes scarce.
Best fit Mature community reefs with peaceful tankmates and enough grazing.
Watch out for Do not apply its compatibility to every cowrie. Secure loose frags and monitor food supply and coral contact. Research sources
Mithraculus sculptus: a green emerald crab. Colour alone does not identify every hitchhiker.
Emerald crab
Caution
Mithraculus sculptus
Useful algae grazer; opportunistic feeding prevents a blanket reef-safe promise.
Quick ID Green, relatively flattened crab with hairy legs and broad spoon-like claw tips.
Typical adult size About 4–6 cm carapace width; legs extend further.
Useful work Grazes algae and may eat bubble algae, particularly accessible small bubbles.
Feeding & care Offer algae-based foods and occasional meaty food; remove any individual observed damaging livestock.
Best fit Established reefs with algae and accessible rockwork; monitor rather than treating as guaranteed pest control.
Watch out for Some ignore bubble algae or pick at coral, snails or small animals. Risk rises with size and inadequate food. Research sources
Skunk cleaner shrimp reference photograph.
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Useful
Lysmata amboinensis
A useful scavenger and fish cleaner, not an algae-control animal.
Quick ID Red-and-yellow body with a white stripe along the back and very long white antennae.
Typical adult size Around 5–6 cm body length; antennae add substantial reach.
Useful work Collects food scraps and may clean consenting fish.
Feeding & care Feed small meaty marine foods and protect newly moulted shrimp from predators; distract when feeding corals.
Best fit Community reefs wanting a visible scavenger.
Watch out for Can steal food from LPS corals. Cleaning behaviour cannot replace disease diagnosis or treatment. Research sources
Peppermint shrimp reference photograph.
Peppermint shrimp
Caution
Lysmata boggessi and related traded Lysmata
Correct species matters; Aiptasia consumption is variable.
Quick ID Translucent body with red longitudinal markings. Similar striped shrimp can have very different diets.
Typical adult size Usually around 3–5 cm body length, depending on species.
Useful work Scavenges food; correctly identified L. boggessi may consume small Aiptasia.
Feeding & care Buy a supplier-identified species, feed normally and monitor corals; do not deliberately starve it into pest control.
Best fit An observed specialist helper alongside wider Aiptasia management.
Watch out for May steal coral food or pick at vulnerable tissue. Camel shrimp are different; red stripes alone do not confirm a suitable species. Research sources
Blood red fire shrimp: Lysmata debelius, with white spots and antennae.
Blood red / fire shrimp
Caution
Lysmata debelius
A colourful scavenger and occasional fish cleaner; monitor coral interactions.
Quick ID Deep red body with white spots and long white antennae. Also sold as blood or scarlet cleaner shrimp.
Typical adult size About 5 cm body length; antennae extend much further.
Useful work Scavenges small food scraps and may clean fish; does not control nuisance algae.
Feeding & care Offer small marine foods regularly, provide shaded rock crevices and protect it during moulting. Distract it when feeding corals.
Best fit Mature reefs with shelter and compatible fish; observe each individual's behaviour.
Watch out for Some individuals pick at small polyps or steal coral food. Cleaning behaviour cannot replace disease treatment; predatory fish may eat it. Research sources
Rhynchocinetes durbanensis: the red-and-white camelback shrimp, distinct from peppermint shrimp.
Camelback / dancing shrimp
Avoid
Rhynchocinetes spp.; R. durbanensis photograph
Avoid as cleanup crew in a coral reef: it can eat coral polyps.
Quick ID Red-and-white geometric bands, large eyes, a humped back and a pronounced hinged, upward-pointing rostrum.
Typical adult size Around 4–5 cm body length, depending on species; antennae extend further.
Useful work Scavenges leftover foods in suitable non-reef aquariums.
Feeding & care Keep in a suitable non-reef setup with caves, compatible companions and varied marine foods. Feeding cannot guarantee coral safety.
Best fit Fish-only or carefully planned non-reef aquariums; included here to prevent a mistaken reef purchase.
Watch out for May eat zoanthids, star polyps and other coral tissue. It is not a peppermint shrimp and is not a reliable Aiptasia-control purchase. Research sources
Tuxedo urchin reference photograph.
Tuxedo urchin
Caution
Mespilia globulus
Effective grazer; also eats coralline and carries loose objects.
Quick ID Rounded body with broad blue bare bands alternating with short spine-covered areas.
Typical adult size About 5 cm body diameter; spines increase overall width.
Useful work Grazes algae films and short growth over rock and glass.
Feeding & care Secure frags, guard exposed intakes and offer nori or herbivore food when grazing is insufficient.
Best fit Mature reefs with enough surface growth; avoid where preserving all coralline is essential.
Watch out for Can strip coralline and carry frags, rubble or shells. Starvation is possible in very clean reefs. Research sources
Halloween / collector urchin reference photograph.
Halloween / collector urchin
Caution
Tripneustes gratilla
A larger grazer requiring generous space and food.
Quick ID Short spines, often orange/white patches, and a habit of covering itself with loose material.
Typical adult size About 10 cm body diameter; overall width with spines is larger.
Useful work Grazes films, turf and some macroalgae across rock.
Feeding & care Secure rock and frags; supply seaweed if natural algae is insufficient. Do not pull it off surfaces by its spines.
Best fit Larger established reefs with plenty of grazing area.
Watch out for Can move frags and reduce desirable macroalgae or coralline. Too much crew can exhaust its food supply. Research sources
