Do pyramid snails actually kill clams?

[alprazo]

I have a pyramid snail infestation. For months I pulled them off weekly with forceps until I purchased a six-line and they seemed to disappear, though I never saw the fish pick at one. Unfortunately the fish jumped into the overflow and its replacement isn't doing the job because they are back. Now several clams are attached firmly to the rock work and I fear injury if I pull them free.

Can anyone honestly say the their clam died from these snails. I only rarely see these snails on the flesh of the clam. They are always on the shell. Well they been on some of the clams for two months now with no ill effect. Do I really have to worry?

 

[OrionN]

They will kill your clams because they will multiply quickly. IMO, parasitic snails is the most common cause of death in clams if your have adequate light and good tank condition.
Minh

 

[alprazo]

Thanks for the reply Minh

How do they kill the clams. Do they bore through the shell, directly through the flesh into the internal clam or do they just munch on the mantle. My clams continue to grow and are always fully extended. If they were having the life sucked out of them wouldn't they show stunted growth and decreased reactivity or do they go south over night. Do you find the snails within the dead clam? I don't doubt that they kill the clams, just curious how.

Also, how do I now get the attached clams off my rock to clean them.

Thanks

 

[OrionN]

They just suck the fluid out of the clam, which of course all the nutrients. The clam just get weaker, not growing and then just die
When I was new in keeping clams, on of my Ultra Crocea started out at 1 inches growing well to about 1.5 inches ehen just stop growing, and detached. I found the clam full of parasitic clams. It later died (in one week) even after I clean all the snails off of it.
Looking at the rest of the clams, I found a bunch of snails. They have not grow well either. After manually clean them off, the clams start to grow again.
Minh

 

[alprazo]

Minh thanks, I've heard enough. Now I have to get back to clam cleaning. I have obviously have some neglected work to do.

Alprazo

 

[freediver]

I struggled with a pyramid snail infestation for several months. I routinely pulled the clams out and manually removed the snails, along with their gelantinous egg masses, only to find another hoard of snails the next inspection.

I finally purchased a small (2.5") yellow coris wrasse two months ago and haven't seen a single snail since. The wrasse regularly hovers around the clams inspecting the scutes and crevices.

BTW, before obtaining the wrasse, I broke off most of the scutes on my clams to eliminate hiding places for the snails to thrive. I'm sure this, along with the wrasse, is responsible for the reduced snail population.

Ken

 

[OrionN]

The key to manually clean them of these parasites is to do it daily, or every other day. Break all the scutes of the clams so you can get the clams clean. Clean all the clams at the same time. You need to get all the adult before they lay eggs, then get all the young snails before thy have a chance to lay eggs. I was able to get rid of all the parasitic snails from my 25 clams by doing this. Once I think I got all of them, I still check them at nigh often to make sure that there are no more in the tank.
When I add a new clam, I make sure that they are snail free.

Minh

 

[freediver]

Yes, you must completely remove all snails and eggs from the shell. However, I have found that these snails also live in the substrate and actively move around to seek food (clams) at night. I don't see why they wouldn't be able to reproduce in other areas of the tank so you have to be mindful of this possibility as well.


Ken

 

[Reefmedic79]

Are there any pics availiable of these snails? I'm trying to ID something like them.

 

[OrionN]

Yes, you must completely remove all snails and eggs from the shell. However, I have found that these snails also live in the substrate and actively move around to seek food (clams) at night. I don't see why they wouldn't be able to reproduce in other areas of the tank so you have to be mindful of this possibility as well.


Ken

IME, there are lots of snails that look like these clams and are free living. Also there are snail parasites that look just like the clam parasites. They are very specific in term of host. Snail parasites will not prey on clams and vice versa.
Minh

 

[alprazo]

At least in my tank the snails are even specific to to clam genus and maybe species. I have never seen one on my Hippopus and out the of Tridacna clams my crocea is loaded with them (42 after several months of neglect) . One Maxima had one, the other was clean. All of the snails that I pulled off were attached to the outer shell. I think I have to find another sixline with a taste for snails. Has anyone put two together?