Snails

[kason42]

I read an article stating that most snails sold as reef tank cleanup crew members actually come from coldwater, such as some turbos, and that exceptions to this are nassirus varieties and fighting conches. There were more varireties in both the former and latter. They brought up a couple interesting points, one being their lifespans. Apparently, every difference in degrees farenhite of water, compared to their natural water temperature, their metabolisms rise, thus, they can starve if algea is not sufficient. I've always had problems with snails myself. It seems as though I've always had to replenish my stock annually. I'm wondering if this could be the cause. However, I know that hermits also play quite the role in the dissapearance acts, which is why I will not be adding them in my new build. Anyway, just thought I'd throw this out there and see what kind of inputs, if any, we can get.

 

[mnat]

I just had to do my annual updating of the cleanup crew and it is a necessary evil. I noticed the difference in one day ind the decrease of algae on my sandbed. Hermits are always going to go after a shell once they want it so you are going to lose snails. Fortunatly, snails are very cheap which makes the process pretty easy. I have not read anything on snail lifespans but I guess you just have to keep on adding.

 

[Gonzapa]

That reminds me that is the time of the year to order a new crew. My sump has no crabs yet the losses in it are huge every year!

 

[reeferwanabe]

I have not used hermits in a long time. I found that they bother some of my corals. I currently have 4 larger snails that have been in there for a long time. 6 nassarius, 2 conch, also alive for some time. I believe if I keep the numbers down they live a long time and do a good job.