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View Full Version : Too many snails, a bad thing?


Enjoy
08/10/2009, 03:54 PM
I have 2 turbos, and I have found about 30+ snails in my tank in the last few days. (none of which i put in) Mostly at night, but a good amount out during the day. I assume this is just natural, but I asked my LFS and to my surprise the response was "Get them all out quick before they multiply"
I know there are certain types of bad snails, but these look like stomatellas, or astreas. I have researched that they are reef safe, but do i want this many in my tank? Will hermits, fish, coral, other snails eat them?
I have a 20 gallon reef tank, with a approx 15 gal sump/refug.

Salinity: 1.026
Nitrate: 0
Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0
Ph: 8.2
Phosphate: 0
Cal: 440
kh: 9

I-Tech 100 skimmer, phosban reactor, chaeto refug, and plenty of live sand, and rock.

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

Enjoy
08/10/2009, 03:54 PM
nitrite: 0 ***

aquaticdiver
08/10/2009, 04:18 PM
I wouldn't worry about them depending on the size. If they are relatively small then I wouldn't worry they will help keep the LR clean in your tank.

Enjoy
08/10/2009, 04:27 PM
thanks for the reply. Thats what im thinking as well, just didnt want to wake up and have a million snails taking over the tank.

If anyone else disagrees, or has any further info please speak up.

Thanks again

angelo99
08/10/2009, 09:23 PM
how many of those 30 are stomatellas or astreas? I'd only worry about if they run out of food and start dying and polluting your water.

Flipper62
08/10/2009, 09:41 PM
Hermit crabs are also good for a tank. However as they grow, they will out grow their shell, they will find any larger shell & Hijack it & take it over. Yep.....eat the guts from a turbo snail for the shell.

There are like little badass gang bangers ...LOL But Crabs are good for the tank.

Its best to keep some larger empty shells in the tank. This way they can take over the empty shell first.

PRDubois
08/10/2009, 11:01 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15508125#post15508125 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Flipper62
Hermit crabs are also good for a tank. However as they grow, they will out grow their shell, they will find any larger shell & Hijack it & take it over. Yep.....eat the guts from a turbo snail for the shell.

There are like little badass gang bangers ...LOL But Crabs are good for the tank.

Its best to keep some larger empty shells in the tank. This way they can take over the empty shell first.

+1 Snails and Crabs are both good

bsclarinet
08/11/2009, 06:28 PM
My only concern would be a lack of food. Eventually that many snails would probably deplete their food source in a small tank.

Nikee1404
08/11/2009, 07:50 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15512906#post15512906 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bsclarinet
My only concern would be a lack of food. Eventually that many snails would probably deplete their food source in a small tank.

+1. But it's not a bad thing. If they are algae eating snails, you can supplement their diet by attaching nori to the glass or onto a rock.

Nikee1404
08/11/2009, 07:51 PM
Oh, and as long as you don't plan on putting triggers or some wrasse in there you should be ok.