Coralline Algae on snails...

[Reefugee]

Just a curious question:

When purchasing snails, they usually arrive nice and clean with minimal coralline algae on the shells. In my very limited diving experience, the wild snails don't have much coralline growth (if any) on them. So why do the snails that we keep in our tank have coralline growth after a while? Why doesn't wild snails have much coralline on them?

 

[jedininja]

Maybe has something to do with the amount of light that they are exposed to in the wild versus in your tank?

 

[Justin74]

and the diversity of other creatures as well as opposed to our tanks. Im sure what lil may collect probably gets picked off by something, just guessing though.

-Justin

 

[MelodyCorals]

I'll vote for the "amount of light" option.... but have no idea either. Would be interesting to know though.

-- Josh

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Well if we are voting, I vote for Justin's something is eating it.

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Ok, Ok can I have another vote, the amount of light option seems good too Josh. In my tank Coralline doesn't grow where the light is very intense.

 

[Justin74]

I vote for a combination of all of the above
I think theres a sweet spot where coraline grows most abundantly. If light and flow too low or too high?

-Justin

 

[MelodyCorals]

I was about to ask to vote twice too when I saw your post. I would agree that a combination seems like the best idea here, just no real hard facts to prove it. I can see lighting, flow, some sneaky urchin or something eating it, etc. Having never dove in the warm waters and seeing it myself, it is hard to know how different my little tank world really is from the real world. But Minh makes a good point that they sure are awfully clean when they arrive..... do I smell a conspiracy theory forming...

-- Josh

 

[Sheldon337]

Snails in our tanks know they are on display.

It is a conscious choice, they want to look good!

 

[Brian Prestwood]

A voting frenzy. Wait until Friday guys

Seriously, I've see a lot of things covered with coraline algae in Monterey. I've also noticed lots or coraline algae growing on the under sides of rocks in warm water (Caribean and Hawaii).

 

[Justin74]

Are they coming from really deep waters then?Or are the popular ones being farmed?Some insight from someone who knows about there collection would be very helpfull.

-Justin

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Oh, and I've seen coralline algae growing on the things under the rocks.

I've also seen dense clusters of snails on the rocks near the shore. No coralline algae on them. I was tempted to collect some but I hear Mexican jails are no fun I've never seen clusters of snails like that in deeper water.

If I had to guess, I'd say the snails that are easiest to collect are found in brightly lit shallow water near the shore. The bright light is too much for the coralline algae. Our tanks are not that bright. Again, just a guess.

Justin, if you really want first hand info post a question for Bob Fenner on WetWebMedia. He used to work as a collector. He probably knows.

 

[Justin74]

Nah, it's Minh's thread. I'll let him do the leg work

-Justin

 

[pbetito]

FWIW when i collect Marguerita snails in the bay area they have very little to no coraline algae whatsoever but when they are from baja they have quite a bit. Maybe water temp, or even shipping plays a part. Also maybe there are forms of life or different species in certain regions that eat the algae or have varying amounts of sunshine and depth. Geez, the more I talk the more I am confusing myself.

Paul

 

[Reefugee]

This weekend, I went on three boat dives. When I below, I noticed that the snails DID have quite a bit of coralline algae growth. Still doesn't answer the question why do snails we buy have no coralline, but it get covered with coralline when in our tank.

 

[wombat2]

My guess is the same reason why you never see outbreaks of flatworms, red bugs, monti-eating nudis, etc. in the ocean. Biological controls that don't exist in our tanks. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Unarce]

That's what I was thinking. All those urchins, chitons, and limpets probably lick them clean

 

[supaboy1981]

I snorkeled frequently in La Jolla when I lived in Sd and I did notice alot of corraline on their shells like pbebito said.

 

[Justin74]

Then..Maybe combined with the holding,shipping(probably biggest 2),recieving then distribution it comes off? Seeing how its all about making money off of them, theres no need to keep light over them just non toxic saltwater, meanwhile any natural corallines bleach/die off. Or maybe they hold there urchins in the same tubs

-Justin

 

[wombat2]

Okay, in the last few hours I've thought about this more than any sane man should think about algae on snail shells.

Coralline algae is hardy stuff. It survives getting shipped on live rock. Days out of the water, light, excess ammonia, etc. Stuff that would easily kill a snail. I don't think shipping/holding would kill off the coralline algae.

Anyone ever notice how clean clam shells are, even wild maricultured ones, when they are newly imported? Look at these:

These clams should have tons of stuff growing on their shells. I am reasonably sure that farm raised clam shells are scrubbed clean of any stony corals/sponges/algae that settle on their shells during their rearing and before they are exported. If not for appearance and to prevent contamination, then to adhere to export permits of certain species.

Perhaps they are doing the same with snails. Seems laborious and silly, but who knows. Just a wild guess.