buying clean up crew packages online

[hckyplayaks3215]

I have a 20 gallon long tank, i have a damsel in there right now and only 3 and half pounds of live rock. im going to be getting more live rock as time goes on, its expensive and im a college kid haha, the tank is cycled and i need to put some snails and hermit crabs in there, but i was wondering what people have heard about buying clean up crew packages online. I feel like it would be such a iffy move. anyone hear anything? would it be a better idea to just go to one of my local fish stores and buy it?

[jenglish]

livestock is fine from many online vendors. However the S&H from online is going to make it more economical in most cases to buy locally. The online stores usually sell 25-30 gallon rated clean up crews and they have enough stuff for a 50-60 gallon tank IMO. do you have a LFS?

[hckyplayaks3215]

im guessing that mean local fish store? and yes i do.

[Hop]

Local Fish Store...

And really about 5 snails and then a few other things depending on what you plan on is a good start. Those "packages" are over priced, over stocked and not worth the shipping unless your dealing with larger tanks IMO.

[jenglish]

LFS= Local fish Store

individual snails and crabs will be more expensive but if you pay $35 for S&H then its only worth it if you are ordering a bunch. 10 snails, 10 crabs is all you would need max IMO

[hckyplayaks3215]

alright thanks!

[Loverotties]

LFS ,because you won't have any dead ones.

[crvz]

Yep, like others have said, online purchases can be a great deal if you're getting enough to justify shipping. In your case, I'd shop locally.

[ScooterBlenny]

I've gotten a lot of my cleanup crew from Reef Scavengers. I have no problem with buying them online - the price difference is huge - but I usually don't like the "packages." They always have something in there that I don't want, so I'd much rather pick and choose my CUC.

[ZMattie]

like they said... youll be better off going to your LFS and buying them there (alot of online stores will try to lure you in with cheaper prices, but when its come to the checkout screen you end up paying the same amount or more when they add the shipping costs, plus you take the risk of it arriving in bad shape or even dead). but keep in mind the crabs will eat your snails if they dont have enough to eat.