Do You Know Who You're Dealing With?
- Thread starter eboonaman
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keefsama2003
In Memoriam
what article?
Spracklcat
Disaster Expert
Yeah, Chuck, I've kept those in my tank for years. They do die off, but I've never had a problem, and they do a great job of stirring the sand and cleaning up extra food. I wish I'd gotten more this year.
Chuck,
I've been keeping those in tanks since I was kid, both local temperate set ups as well as tropical. Yes they typically only last a year or two, but that is also typical of many of the truly tropical snails we put in our systems. Otherwise we all wouldn't be regularly adding more
I also have my doubts about them attacking other snails, I've yet to see Illynassa attack a healthy animal of any kind in aquaria or in the wild. It's true in areas where you find huge concentrations of them that there is little else in the sand as far as pods and worms, however, those areas are also typically poor for the growth of such things even if the Illynassa were not there As for swimmers itch, don't go collecting in areas where it's been reported and you'll be fine. I've been actively collecting them and other critters for over 30 years, and have yet to get swimmers itch 
I've been keeping those in tanks since I was kid, both local temperate set ups as well as tropical. Yes they typically only last a year or two, but that is also typical of many of the truly tropical snails we put in our systems. Otherwise we all wouldn't be regularly adding more
I also have my doubts about them attacking other snails, I've yet to see Illynassa attack a healthy animal of any kind in aquaria or in the wild. It's true in areas where you find huge concentrations of them that there is little else in the sand as far as pods and worms, however, those areas are also typically poor for the growth of such things even if the Illynassa were not there As for swimmers itch, don't go collecting in areas where it's been reported and you'll be fine. I've been actively collecting them and other critters for over 30 years, and have yet to get swimmers itch 
Kigs
In Memoriam
but didn't the article say that it kills off your other cleanup crew such as snails, pods and beneficial worms? you guys didn't have any problems with that?
I've collected few "nassarius" looking snails with black shells around long island shores. are they the same ones as the ones in the article?
I've collected few "nassarius" looking snails with black shells around long island shores. are they the same ones as the ones in the article?
Spracklcat
Disaster Expert
I added those snails this fall and my sand has so many worms I'm giving them away--I don't think they eat worms at all. But put some flake in the tank and up they come to the surface of the sand, gobbling away...
keefsama2003
In Memoriam
ill take some worms i need them and where can i find these snails even tho i think its too cold now i have no nass snails in my tank and really need to kickstart it.
tank has been running about 10 months with nothing in it. not a single worm / pod / anything.
tank has been running about 10 months with nothing in it. not a single worm / pod / anything.
Spracklcat
Disaster Expert
Keith I'll bring you some sand and a few bristleworms too if I can get them. I found the mother of all bristleworms last night--easily 10" long.
keefsama2003
In Memoriam
sweet ill put it somewhere lol
i just want to start seeding the tank it was a sterile tank that ran for about 3 months with no life at all except the bacteria from my somewhat lr and what livesand i had in a 55 gal drum with a powerhead in it.
had that drum sitting for a long time so i know no life just bacteria was in it and once my tank went together my cycle was 4 days and after that 0 across the board im fighting nitrates right now but i think i got it under control.
just trying to get a diverse selection of macros and life for my sandbed. as my fuge has a 13" dsb and lr in it and my main tank has 2" of sand in it.
i just want to start seeding the tank it was a sterile tank that ran for about 3 months with no life at all except the bacteria from my somewhat lr and what livesand i had in a 55 gal drum with a powerhead in it.
had that drum sitting for a long time so i know no life just bacteria was in it and once my tank went together my cycle was 4 days and after that 0 across the board im fighting nitrates right now but i think i got it under control.
just trying to get a diverse selection of macros and life for my sandbed. as my fuge has a 13" dsb and lr in it and my main tank has 2" of sand in it.
cb747
Active member
I collected those snail locally by me and ive never had a problem with them. One thing i notice is by day they stay low in the tank generally between the starboard and the side of the tank. At night there all over the glass from bottom to top. I threw well over 100 in my reef during the coarse of the summer. Also threw a bunch of those clear shrimps you see by a dock in and they made the journey to the sump and happily reside there
onegreenray
Active member
i found those shrimp do better in a smaller tank with less flow chris. the ones i put in the 90 ended up in the sump or over flow or on the carpet. the ones in my 15 gallon are all still ther and go nuts like the snails for the flake.
keith you can always find those snails in any marsh area on long island. i have collected them in the middle of the winter just take more time in the acclimation.
keith you can always find those snails in any marsh area on long island. i have collected them in the middle of the winter just take more time in the acclimation.
greenbean36191
Premium Member
I should have made some clear recommendations of what hobbyists who already have these snails should do, but I didn't. Hindsight is 20/20.
If you already have these snails, I certainly wouldn't recommend getting rid of them unless you're running a DSB system. Otherwise, they aren't likely to do any noticable damage. Just let them live out the rest of their lives.
The point of the article is that there are more appropriate snails in the hobby. Lets try to make responsible livestock choices and not support collection of animals that aren't likely to do well in a reef setting.
If you already have these snails, I certainly wouldn't recommend getting rid of them unless you're running a DSB system. Otherwise, they aren't likely to do any noticable damage. Just let them live out the rest of their lives.
The point of the article is that there are more appropriate snails in the hobby. Lets try to make responsible livestock choices and not support collection of animals that aren't likely to do well in a reef setting.
keefsama2003
In Memoriam
ray we should go out then as i know not where the marsh's be 
onegreenray
Active member
keith,
any beach has a marsh area just go down to the beach at low tide.
any beach has a marsh area just go down to the beach at low tide.
keefsama2003
In Memoriam
umm i never been to the beach on long island where is it
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