Top 6 Inverts You'll Regret (And 8 Awesome Alternatives)

[@ReefandDive]

I love that you give “alternatives” suggestions...

[@coolcandyfish1359]

Same

[@chrislocke1042]

I totally agree..

[@binyamingoldberg127]

Just to put it out there regarding bubble tip anemones... I love mine and I introduced it to my tank after only 3 months. While it didn't do great and was very slow to grow as I was figuring out a home-made lighting system, it's been doing great since I finished my home-made LED system. On the flip side, my clowns don't host in it.

[@josephwinetou3256]

I wont lie to you..... I don't have aquarium... But if i have someday.... I will buy everything that you recommended...... Is just right.....and puting my place in a very good position to starting a hoby... I could never go wrong.... Thanks for all the information budy....

[@ericsfishingadventures4433]

I've been reef keeping for nearly 17 years and have always had a a pistol shrimp and goby pair. Very rarely the pair can can prey upon very small shrimp and 2 times (1 just the other day nearly caught on film) have seen the pair actually prey upon very , very small hermit crabs. This symbiotic pair is actually my favorite part of the hobby. And are very rare to do such actions. The more you study this pair, the more fascinating!

[@thomasambers9977]

I’m a newbie and have a yellow watchmen goby and a tiger pistol shrimp that are a bonded pair I only know because I moved a rock and found them together. I’m super jealous of everyone who gets to watch or even see theirs

[@poorwhiteman6634]

I had sea hares, they were absolutely awesome. Unfortunately they died of old age as theywere already at the end of their life span when i got them. They where the coolest things i have had in my tank.

[@athomeontwo]

Although I am not a fan of Turbos (they can’t flip themselves back over if they fall) I don’t think I’ve ever had one for less than 3-4 years, I would never describe them as short lived. I’m with you 100% on Trochus snails though, they are my first option every time!

[@Richs_reef]

I’ve had experience with 2 on the list. I had a sea hare when I was battling hair algae and using Phosphate remover in the background and the 2 sorted the issue out in no time. This worked for me because I told my LFS I only wanted the sea hare on loan and would return him when he completed the job which they were happy to accommodate - he went out on loan again quickly! The other invert is bubble anemones - I love these guys with my pair of percula clowns and just accepted I would need to keep an eye on them wondering when I first introduced them - I’ve found they’re pretty stable once they’ve found a spot they like. Mine split roughly every 9 months and I’m never short of mates that want one! Great video as always Alex

[@bradsimpson8724]

The "alternatives" suggestions are an outstanding idea every "don't add this to your tank" video-maker on KZbin needs to note. Ultimately, you're trying to warn someone away from something popular, which is advice most people will ignore if they really really want it. At least if you offer an alternative people might accept that, rather than ignoring you outright.

[@worldwarbricks7966]

I love my pistol and watchman pair they're like best mates, 😄

[@gem9535]

Even though I don't even have a saltwater tank, I still appreciate how these are unnecessarily twenty minutes long.

[@ReefDork]

Glad to hear it - that was one of the reasons I started the channel 🙂

[@gem9535]

@@ReefDork Correction, how these are NOT unnecessarily twenty minutes long. My bad

[@titus4166]

Another alternative for star fish is Sand Sifting Star Fish. They are very peaceful and will never bother your corals or Inhabitants. And recommend rock flowers over bubble tip.

[@ronbeatty516]

You do a good job at explaining things.

[@rustyshackleford234]

Dude I had a bubble tip anemone that split up into 8+ separate anemones. Thankfully they all stayed on one rock lmao

[@raidergamefilm8945]

This dang rose anemones! I have a mated pair of tomato Clowns. My rose had split in to 9 over the years. Finally had just one and it hadn't moved in almost a year. I add sps frags and OF COURSE IT MOVED. When the 11 Year old clowns die, the anemone goes for store credit

[@BigGuyAl007]

Nice video Alex I would always have the bubble tip nems as so beautiful to watch the clowns hosting them. Good points through, pain tubos 👍👍🇬🇧

[@gokuthetypeofningen1688]

Hope you’re happy Alex, now I’m saying stuff like “let’s get stuck in” and “that was a schoolboy error” in the middle of Texas. 🤠

[@ReefDork]

😂

[@bubblerings]

Loved this one.. Living in Hawaii.. Will see what permit I need... To gather a few items for my new marine attempts.. Some algaes and polyps.. Wanting all natives, so they can go home if I have to move..

[@bubblerings]

People eat those urchins, here. Lol.

[@MrDUSTYBOY272]

SPOT ON! Wish I had seen a video like this before I started 4 years ago and learned the hard way. But thank you!

[@artificialecosystems5874]

I know you say that the Mexican turbos don’t live long... I bought one a year and a half ago with my conch, it suffered all my mistakes and is perfectly fine, I’ve been thinking about getting a few more turbos

[@rudra7615]

Reef Dork, Inappropriate Reefer, CJ's Aquarium.. I dunno why, but I don't click so fast at a new video for anyone else. Awesome content as always

[@christemple6311]

Rudra Omg my favs too!

[@davidhughes7180]

Like this mini series!

[@ReefDork]

Guess what's next 🤓

[@danielhaywood641]

"red knob" stars 👀👀👀

[@johnwesley111harrison4]

Red knob starfish hardy beautiful peaceful great adition for fowlr tank

[@johnwesley111harrison4]

So as chocolatechip starfish

[@beaul1387]

I love bing watching your vids!

[@formallydehyde]

Since you mentioned conchs as an alternative, something to consider if you're looking at strawberry/tiger conchs is they're surprisingly good climbers. I don't know if this applies to other species of conch. They can't use their foot to glide up a vertical face like small snails, but they *can* use their weird spiky crab leg operculum like an ice axe to scale rock work. They won't intentionally hurt corals or other animals but they can cause some damage just by being adventurous and clumsy. I love them to death but they're much more vertically mobile than I anticipated when I bought them.

[@andrewlindell8626]

Regarding bubble tips. I literally had one fall on the floor, get chopped up in my vortech pump, and also get put into a small aquarium early on. The thing is thriving and huge

[@user-lm3jn3wp9l]

Glad to hear from english man and talks sense with helpful tips great knowledge

[@zakarymcleod1850]

I disagree with the statement that bubble tips are fragile. I've seen them survive some crazy situations, like when my dad and former stepmom divorced and one survived a year in an empty house with just a powerhead and very very intermitten top off with fresh declorinated tap water (not even RODI). It had no direct light, no return pump more than half the time, no water changes, no feeding. Nothing but a powerhead. It lost its color and steadily shrunk, but lasted far longer than almost anything else. It finally died well over a year later once I set up my own tank and moved the anemone to it. It never was able to adjust to being under my reef lights even with an extensive acclimation, but it outlived everything except one of the host clownfish, some gsp, and some kenya tree. I agree that they can be a nuisance though. Mine hasn't split or walked around the tank but it has gotten huge and started reaching and stinging corals.

[@pabstvizsla2323]

I’ve dove in the Caribbean many times and by far my favorite thing to do is go to the reef and get little high fives from the arrow crabs

[@ReefDork]

🤣 Love it!

[@rubenarreola9993]

God I remember when I bought a bta and It was walking around looking for a spot. Anyway I went to sleep and woke up the next morning and noticed the bta decided to sit RIGHT NEXT TO MY WAR PAINT SCOLY. luckilybI caught it in time and moved the scoly, but that was scary

[@MatthewWagnerNOECA]

I think the turbo snails lifespan depends on where they were harvested. I used to have problems with them in the past. Now the ones I get seem to be very hardy.

[@cassrock5692]

IDK if it would make for a full video. But I'd love more info on suitable pairs of pistol shrimp and gobies. or maybe if there are any other symbiotic species that we should know about? I really would love a pistol shrimp and goby now that I've looked further into it. so thanks for that at the least!

[@RogueAquariums]

Good advice to those who are on the fence about certain inverts.. 👍

[@stephen6409]

i like these type of videos they give you a good idea before buying the fish which in the past iv made that mistake

[@lordchadthe69thofsussex72]

Bubble tip anemones are also only compatible with certain types of clownfish, so they're not a one-size-fits-all

[@wayneevery2176]

I really like this video it told me why I have had such a hard time with bubel tips and not do well with a few other things thank you.

[@josephposada1830]

Cheers Mate! Thanks for these videos. I am still in the planning stages of my first Saltwater tank. I was curious as to the model of Light, that appears in your videos

[@ReefDork]

The large white unit is a Giesemann Stellar - there's also a Kessil AP700 in it 🙂

[@johnwesley111harrison4]

Chocolatechip/red knob starfish and camel shrimp are hardy great addition beginners for fowlr tank only

[@Lsthnbrd]

I used to have 3 trochus snails but 2 died. The 1 that is left only comes out at night and spends its days on the ceiling of a rock tunnel. Also have a conch that is awesome. Spends about half its time buried in the sand and the other half scooting around eating scraps. Very fun to watch. I’d love to add some sort of shrimp, maybe a sexy shrimp as I have a nice big rock flower nem where it could set up camp

[@ZombieBrainsDev]

I loved my scarlet skunk shrimp. If I reached my hand in to the tank to move things or clean the filter intake he'd jump on my hand and start cleaning it.

[@Bfamreef]

Good video as always. Would love to see a video like this for bare bottom reefs as it seems to be a new big thing. And to be honest it is difficult to find really good videos on the subject.

[@alaskacosplay]

I'm probably gonna start with a few hermit crabs since they're readily available and some stay small.

[@MarkCJackman]

An indispensable post, thank you sooooo much!

[@HWolfe]

Thank gobs for alternatives. At 6 inches across I would give the Arrow crab the house..lol😳.

[@larissaneves768]

hi! what about nerites? never saw you talk about them

[@Jel0XD]

I agree to everything you've said especially the alternatives but enough of this 6 month rule about nems. I put 2 as soon as my tank cycled. As an avid fan of nems, keep them fed and don't throw extra nitrates and phosphates in the tank and you should be good. 6 month rule is non-existent in my book. Mine is now triple its size

[@ReefDork]

Sounds like you've nailed it - I think the six month rule is probably a good safety net for nubes though 🙂

[@drewhendrix7446]

I have a troublesome pistol shrimp. He’s rejected my watchman goby and has killed my hermits.

[@jacobmensing7022]

I have had 3 total cleaner shrimp and only 1 of the 3 is still alive as it got aggressive with the one I bought it with and a few months later I got the new one and that only made it a few weeks?

[@enzomontini758]

Totally off topic but have u considered an energy consumption cost video I’ve got a smart energy box from my electricity company and minus the consumption of the fridge and mobile phones charging at night u will be surprised at the result

[@ReefDork]

I've thought about a costs of running video but it'll take a lot of work. I have a smart meter too - scary figures hey!

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

Some people say, best alternative for an anemone is a fake one. Might be a bit blunt, but if you want to keep the relatively hardy clownfish without having to worry about their much more delicate symbiontic partner, it might work out. Xenia is probably the most popular living "surrogate", thought.

[@pauldeacon2268]

Very good Alex! 😀👍👍

[@dougaldawson5083]

I love flower nems but I see different opinions on how safe they are. Iv just setup a 20g so I'm wary of getting a flower nem in such a small tank if they're likely to go for fish or sexy shrimp when I get stock

[@bongosreef9406]

Hi reef dork, liking your videos and your tank is amazing - can't wait for the next upload :) - I think the exposure level in this video needed adjusting a little. :)

[@lisariggio6916]

Can you make a couple more suggestions on brittle stars you recommend?

[@ReefDork]

There are tons - i'd say see what's in your LFS, then Google it to make sure it's reef safe. I've always gone for the tiger brittle star.

[@jojoorsmth]

I have a chocolate chip in a non-reef tank and love her! Def wouldn’t put her with coral tho!

[@thatfishguy4991]

Actually bristle stars are in an entirely different order than other sea stars

[@rickgrigsby5848]

I got a arrow crab and he decided to probe my clam with his leg sticking his legs like a sword going through the soft tissue probing on what's inside the clam. And apparently the clam couldn't feel it cuz he didn't even close.

[@krishnar1182]

Thanks, very helpful advice

[@tschagalaga]

I dont have any problem with my bubbletip... staying at his place now so i dont think it will start walking around soon again. Yes, at the end all anemones are risky if you talk about walking...

[@opethmike]

Howdy friendly reef dork!

[@ReefDork]

👋

[@shibaguts7713]

Our turbo snails have lived quite a long time, so i guess we have gotten lucky. We also have baby snails, but we don't think they're turbos

[@cinnamonoa]

chocolate chip stars are basically just harlequin shrimp food

[@oubliette862]

what are your thaughts on the asterina stars my spelling may be wrong...they are very small colored white and orange? those are the kind i see most...i noticed one in my tank the other day.

[@ReefDork]

If they're definitely asterina, they're generally fine. Although they can be a bit of a pain when they multiply.

[@oubliette862]

@@ReefDork thats what they are. i have paid for those in the past idk where this one come from, hitchhiker i guess. i just found another star in my little tank...and it is huge lol. the legs must be 6 inches a foot across..i believe its a bristle star...hitchhiker to...i baught some green plants sea weeds and such..it seems it was loaded with hitchhikers.

[@talkingweevil3172]

Can I keep a tuxedo urchin in a five gallon if I give it lots of nori and algae wafers

[@ReefDork]

Far too small a tank in my opinion

[@talkingweevil3172]

@@ReefDork thank you for the responding I’m just disappointed because I cannot keep a larger tank

[@andrewmunro4884]

I’ve seen blood red fire shrimp in public aquariums and they usually keep to themselves and yes there were cleaner shrimp in the tank as well and from what I saw they where fine since there was enough space for them to stay out of each others way.

[@johnwyatt3677]

Yes that clownfish looked absolutely happy not having an enemy with him. All you have to do is watch the enemies Rose bubbles are great and enemies to have in the tank and once they find a good place to go they stay there and then you can adjust your corals pretty simple

[@kawaiizombiegal]

Fire shrimp are not bad

[@buddybonbutt7510]

With Banded trochus snails, should I be worried with how fast they breed? I thought they could become an infestation and kill off other inverts by removing all food in the tank. I was looking to get a Hawaiian hermit crab, blue tuxedo urchin, and cleaner shrimp. Would it be safe to add these snails?

[@ReefDork]

No, you can get plagues of snails in freshwater tanks but i've never seen it in saltwater tanks - the numbers tend to be self-regulating as they die off if there's not enough food to go round

[@steliosjaj]

Flower anemones are known to usually be aggressive and they might kill some fish.

[@herbie978]

Rock flower nems will eat pretty much anything they touch is the only issue!

[@jhondoe1483]

I will say I personally only disagree on BTA, everything else here is a good bet but I have to say contrary to common recomendations I say add your BTA before most of your corals, Let them find their place and settle down before you try and add 1 a year or two in and it destorys all your coral.

[@johnwesley111harrison4]

Whats the problem of rose bulb anemone

[@StudioGhibletz]

They tend to propagate too quickly for a reef tank

[@crazwolf9825]

Halloween crab is not a good alternative. They need specific shells(long thin opening), and are delicate, compared to competing hermit crabs. Also...Arrow crab gets 6 inches, yes, but that includes the legs, and most get sold around 4 to 4½".

[@sporcu1175]

are there any traditional-ish looking, starfish (like the shape of the Linckia Sea Star but not that big) that are beginner friendly? really would like a star fish but I am a huge beginner... love the vid, thanks! im subbed too, u have been a huge help :)

[@ReefDork]

Afraid not - sand sifters are the closest but they tend to die of starvation. Brittle stars are cool though, you'll grow to love them 🙂

[@sporcu1175]

@@ReefDork Darn, thanks so much!

[@titus4166]

I have a Hawaiian Crab with a fighting conch and they never bother each other. So, not sure how much that is true. I suppose if you have enough food in the tank, theres no fighting. I personally feed each crab once a week. So, maybe that's why they get along.

[@ReefDork]

It's not about food - hermits kill snails to take their shells. If the conch has a shell the right size for the hermit, the hermit will kill it.

[@titus4166]

@@ReefDork then idk. I've honestly never had that issue. All my hermits then, are happy with their shells. They've all been in my tank a year and half. I keep track of them all. No shell thief's atm.

[@marcosbarela6185]

Have you kept any other type of anthias like lyretail or dispar, if so what are your thoughts on them

[@johnsteitz6310]

I have both in my tank and are awesome fish. They will fight like cat and dogs occasionally but always make up in the end.

[@whywaswacktaken7761]

Any wrasses for a 225L reef sps lps mixed that are easy to get hold of in a fish shop uk

[@enzoalmeidadasilva5513]

I would say a six line wrasse, but it would bully any other fish you have in there.

[@jetskiwillywilly7970]

Nothing but Trouble over here....Linckia...with bubble tips...with banded shrimp with Mexican Turbo snails.

[@whywaswacktaken7761]

With the rock flower anenome do they tend to move as much and can they be isolated on a rock or are they able to move freely to sting corals and would it be suitable to have a anenome crab with it or not thanks.

[@joebailey540]

They move.

[@saltyseacaptain2257]

They do move but very little compared to other anemones, they tend to move a little when you first place them but once they find a spot they like they will rarely move again. It's very easy to isolate them to a single rock or small area. You can absolutely keep anemone crabs with them as well. This is based off my past experience hope this helps

[@kabirkhera-gill6294]

hermit is nothing like the arrow crab

[@jocgarza]

Is there any existing method to breed trochus snails?

[@enzoalmeidadasilva5513]

They commonly breed in aquariums, they spawm in the water collum, they don't lay eggs like most snails.

[@QuIcKeNdZ]

i totally agree on the camel shrimp. Had two come in on a liverock. They ate 4 frags of zoas, a sick bta, a rock flower, and a goni :(

[@gungbojog6030]

How many trochus should i keep to the point they start reproducing?

[@geancarloescotorodriguez6848]

reef dork where's that accent from? and im wathing your video from honduras

[@ReefDork]

South of England 🙂

[@ChrisAce1661]

If Jason Statham was a fish nerd...

[@multisturge]

I had a bubble tip anemone in my last tank and I was lucky. It didn't go far from where I first placed it and stayed there for a while. it wasn't until i started having issues like marine ich and doing a lot to try to fight the outbreak that it started moving behind the rockwork. I was told to think of anemones as stubborn teenagers, they'll move where they want to go and not care about what in the way or if you want it there. Getting back into the hobby soon once extension and refurbishment on the house is done and will actually consider flower anemones this time.

[@tijs2094]

Hi, wich clean up crew members do you have?

[@ReefDork]

Conches, trochus snails and a blue tuxedo urchin. Probably a brittle star still! I practice what I preach 👐

[@tijs2094]

@@ReefDork thank you, I am selecting my own cuc at the moment

[@intergalacticmuffin7071]

These videos are great but on every one you basically cross off a bunch of reasons why I wanted a tank :( I want to get back in the hobby specifically for a bubble tip anenimone, hippo tang (which you said to avoid) and red fire shrimp and boxing shrimp :( amongst a few other things. Could you not get the anenimone once your water is perfect prior to buying any coral? As I'd personally rather have the anenimone and no coral than not have one.

[@ReefDork]

Rules are meant to be broken. Just because something isn't the best idea, doesn't mean you shouldn't do it!

[@chrisfield3092]

I told my lfs about the fish I had as I wanted to add to my clean up crew. He suggested a cleaner shrimp which lasted 1 day until my long nose hawk ate him 😢. Have you heard of long nose eating shrimp?

[@ReefDork]

Yep, I'm afraid they're a risk. Falco and flame are less of a risk but there's still a chance I'm afraid.

[@chrisfield3092]

@@ReefDork thanks for your reply. Love you videos by the way. New reefer here

[@superjasonification]

Will never buy camel shrimp again, evil little buggers. Love my BTA even if they're death tornadoes.

[@77blacktrip]

A tip from experience.. I wouldn't suggest putting brittle stars in with porcelain crabs, mine ate the 2 I had in there. And you didn't have peppermint shrimp on the list? Yes they're great at eating aiptasia but mine turned on my zoa's once the aiptasia was all gone and they were a nightmare to catch.

[@ironed480]

Weird, I've had my turbo snails for years now.

[@adambaker1429]

if you feed allot they will be ok. Super clean tank will stress them.

[@lovinghusband1]

Brittle stars can get agressive

[@joshweaver673]

Would love to see a cleanup crew list for a tank with a dogface puffer as it seems they like to munch on most of this list lol

[@jasepoag8930]

I love conchs and their goofy stupid faces. I find bubbletips to be nigh unkillable, but their walks can be a pain. My green never moves, but my red has been incredibly restless. It's been in its current spot for a few months though, so I think it might finally be happy.

[@Chris-cu4ge]

My arrow crab was murdered by 3 snails

[@brandonezdoofenshmirtz2916]

Uno reverse

[@adambaker1429]

my clowns love my Duncan coral.

[@opethmike]

Eeesh, brittle and serpent stars skeeve me out.

[@StudioGhibletz]

same here haha I always wanna add one, but never do

[@opethmike]

@@StudioGhibletz I feel like they would be a great addition, but eeeesh

[@kylefriend6391]

Great vid, subscribing for more!

[@patrickfennell5702]

Not Algee it’s Algae!!!! 😂

[@markuss4781]

please try to talk a lil bit slower, your fast speed talking is hard to understand for foreign people like me. Talking a lil bit slower/clearer opens will expand to alot of other peoples and subscribers with another mother language than english. greets from germany

[@davehuish3644]

MarKuss I believe you can change the video speed in KZbin. Hope that’s helpful. Cheers!

[@markuss4781]

Dave Huish this is logically not helpful cause slowing down audio will cause a chance in Frequenz and much lower unnatural voice like slowing down every audio media