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Collect Clean-Up Crews

How Clean-Up Crews are Collected: Sustainability, Licensing, Underwater Footage | Mr. Saltwater Tank

Join Mark Callahan, Mr. Saltwater Tank, for an exclusive look at the highly regulated world of Florida clean-up crew collection. In this episode, we sit down with Amy, a professional collector, to discuss the incredible rarity of this profession - there are currently fewer than 100 active collecting licenses in the entire state of Florida. You’ll get a firsthand look at the strict sustainability efforts and legal restrictions that protect our oceans, including why certain species remain strictly protected. Through stunning underwater footage, we explore the "hand-collected" philosophy, highlighting how collectors rotate locations and selectively harvest larger specimens to ensure local populations can repopulate. Whether you’re curious about the origin of your Blue Legged Hermit Crabs and Astrea Snails or want to see the underwater conditions of a professional dive, this video reveals the passion and precision behind a sustainable reef hobby.

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  • Emerald Crab (Mithraculus sculptus) - Cleanup Crew

    Emerald Crab (Mithraculus sculptus) - Cleanup Crew

    Clean Up Crews

    $14.99
    Tired of battling persistent bubble algae and unsightly hair algae? The Emerald Crab (Mithraculus sculptus) is your diligent, all-natural solution. Hailing from the vibrant reefs of the Caribbean, this small but mighty invertebrate is a must-have for any...
  • Brittle Starfish (Ophiocoma spp.) - Cleanup Crew

    Brittle Starfish (Ophiocoma spp.) - Cleanup Crew

    Clean Up Crews

    $14.99
    The Reef's Tireless Janitor Discover the hidden gem of aquarium clean-up crews with the incredible Brittle Starfish. A close relative of the Serpent Star, the Brittle Star is a master scavenger, using its long, slender, and highly flexible arms to...
  • (10) Pack Blue Legged Hermit Crabs (Clibanarius sp) - Cleanup Crew

    (10) Pack Blue Legged Hermit Crabs (Clibanarius sp) - Cleanup Crew

    Clean Up Crews

    $19.99
    Scarlet & Blue Leg Hermits are an essential part of any Clean up Crew.  This omnivore can access the smallest crevices and openings within aquascape to consume any nuisance algae including hair algae and cyanobacteria. They also will consume...
  • (10) Pack Astrea Snails (Astraea tecta) - Cleanup Crew

    (10) Pack Astrea Snails (Astraea tecta) - Cleanup Crew

    Clean Up Crews

    $27.99
    Astraea Snails are awesome herbivores that have an amazingly voracious appetite for nuisance algae in the home aquariums.  Astraea Snails graze on algae's such as diatoms and cyano. Clean Up Crews only Ship on Monday - Thursday to avoid...
  • (10) Pack Cerith Snail (Cerithium SP) - Cleanup Crew

    (10) Pack Cerith Snail (Cerithium SP) - Cleanup Crew

    Clean Up Crews

    $22.99
    Cerith snails are small but elegant (white or dark) spiral shelled snails and are very active scavengers, feeding on crabs and carrion and dead fish, etc. They often burrow into marine substrates and then wait until they smell nearby food.  They are...
  • Porcelain Crab (Petrolisthes galathinus) - Cleanup Crew

    Porcelain Crab (Petrolisthes galathinus) - Cleanup Crew

    Clean Up Crews

    $19.99
    Coloration can vary - these are not always white, brown is common as well. Porcelain crabs live in abundance in Pacific Coast tide pools. They hide under stones, between mussels in mussel beds, among sponges and tucked into tufts of algae. Safely...
  • Serpent Starfish (Ophioderma spp.) - Cleanup Crew

    Serpent Starfish (Ophioderma spp.) - Cleanup Crew

    Clean Up Crews

    $29.99
    Serpent Starfish (Ophioderma spp.) - Colors Vary.  Most are brown/black in color. The Ultimate Reef Scavenger and Master of Stealth Introduce a touch of serpentine grace to your aquarium with the Serpent Starfish. A fascinating and highly...
  • (10) Pack Black Margarita Snail (Margarites pupillus) - Cleanup Crew

    (10) Pack Black Margarita Snail (Margarites pupillus) - Cleanup Crew

    Clean Up Crews

    $23.99
    Black Margarita snails can make an excellent addition to your saltwater tank.  They are a great snail for consuming massive amounts of algae and can self-right if they fall off a rock or are knocked over. Clean Up Crews only Ship on Monday -...