Why do snails die?

[GoLowDrew]

When I first order some snails from ebay, I got a lot. I think it was like 30 snails for a 30G tank.

They are like Astrea snails. Just your regular cleaning crew.

I made a post here asking if it's too much. Yes. Some of you mentioned there will not be enough food to go around, and some of them will starve.

Ok, true. Some did die. Then the number was reduced to like 15, and now I have like one that I see.

Why do they die? I thought they were pretty hardy. Fishes are ok.

I have no crab to attack them. Do snails attack each other?

Do I actually need to feed the snails? I try not to over feed the fishes to keep my water clean. Should I over feed a bit some food can get to the bottom?

Or do they just die off natually? Time frame. Over a year.

[Sk8r]

margaritas are coldwater snails and do not live.
Your astraeas are adapted for rocky areas. On fine sand, without a friendly current to sweep through and carry them against a rescuing rock, they cannot grip, fall over, and unless righted by the owner, they die within a day or so.

[karavak]

I have noticed that a few of my Astraeas have died. I was checking them on a regular bases for a while to see if they flipped over but they seemed to be doing ok. But last time I went to check 3 were gone. I'm guessing they just got a few that didn't stick around.

I will admit to doing a little over feeding.. I have 3 fish in the tank and a decent size clean up crew so a little over feeding seems to be ok for me

[GoLowDrew]

ok, so crabs are bad. They eat my snails. Snails don't stick around long enough. Who do I call up to be my cleaning crew?

[L98-Z]

Use different snails?

I personally used multiple types of snails and crabs. If I were to do it again, I'd use only various snails, chitons, limplets, shrimp, and emerald crabs. No hermit crabs. Turbo snails are currently my favorite. They do the work of 10 small snails.

[VacavilleFC3S]

i agree with L98 i have a variety of snails no hermits or other types of crabs because keep a mantis shrimp in my display, though i am considering trying a couple emeralds to take care of some bubble algae

i actually have way better luck with margaritas than astreas. i've gone through like 6-8 astreas in the last 8 months yet the 2 margaritas i bought when i first setup the tank last may are doing just fine.

my brother has also had the same problem, he's had like 4 astreas but has like 10 margaritas and none have died in either as far as i know. we keep all 4 of our tanks at 80F

[tims28gnano]

karavak

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

mix it up with those snails!

[Michael]

the main reason i believe is we dont aclimatise them long enough, i use to lose snails, not so much now, best to drip them for several hours i recom, jmo

[karavak]

What would be a good mix of snails for a 65 with light bio?

I have 18 Astrea snails and 7 Nass. I also have about 10 hermits (2 red legg, and 8 blue zebra), 2 emerald crabs, 1 black brittle and 1 serpent.