Help I am being Overrun with snails!

[mvergas]

Ahhh, I really need some expert help here. I have a 46gal bowfront mixed reef tank, that is quite established (going on 2 years now). But I have noticed that my tank is becoming overrun with baby snails, an i can only assume that they are turbo snials as those are the only snails that i have in my tank.
I noticed them about a 2 months ago when they were very small, like half the size of a pinhead. problem is they are getting bigger and i am sure that ther are more now. just tonight i was looking in my tank an there seemed to be litterally hundreds of them all over my rock. i took a picture of just one of the rocks for reference and you can see that the rock is covered with them and the rest of my tank is just as bad.

please tell me what i need to do to get rid of all of these, and is my tank in any danger with this large number of snails?
thanks

 

[liveforphysics]

They are not turbos. They appear to be one of the many harmless algae eating types of small snail.

There population will not exceed the carrying capacity of the algae in your tank. I always view these snails and stomatelas as my favorite species of snail. The bigger sized snails that people buy are always knocking over frags and corals and unable to reach all places in the tank to clean. These little guys are perfect for cleaning!

Enjoy them

Best Wishes,
-Luke

 

[Crimthann]

They look like Collonista amakusaensis. As liveforphysics said they are reef safe algae eaters.

 

[coralnut99]

Try posting in the "other Invert." forum. A close-up of a bigger one might help too. If it were me I wouldn't be pushing the panic button. Some observation should tell you if they are grazers. As noted, the #'s will eventually reach some equillibrium with the available food supply. If they are in fact grazers, you can always share them with reefers local to you. You're probably seeing the result of an eggcase on a piece of live rock hatching out.

 

[Freed]

I will take some. Please ship some to me.

 

["Umm fish?"]

Personally, I love those snails. They don't seem to ever get much bigger than that.

That said, if you really want to get rid of them, get rid of the food that's causing their population to grow. If you solve the algae issues, the population of snails will die back. If you DON'T solve the algae issues and get rid of the snails, then you'll really have problems (i.e., algae explosion).

Bottom line, they are there because you are feeding them, but they are eating bad stuff that you don't want anyway.

 

[sunfish11]

As stated before they are colonista snails and that is as big as they will get. They wont hurt anything and will help keep your tank clean.

 

[AZT3K]

sounds like no reason to panic, I'm no expert but I would be happy about the situation, I always love to discovery new things in my tank. oh yeah if you do decide to get ride of some I would love to adopt a couple.

 

[demonsp]

They look like unwanted sundail snails look here.

http://www.melevsreef.com/id/

 

[Eklikewhoa]

Those aren't sundials....they are harmless and good for the tank....although that one in the top left looks to be different from the rest.

 

[Reef Aquatics]

Those are not sundial snails...

liveforphysics is right...I have lots of these little guys in my tank and
they are excellent cleaners...IE...they dont knock frags over, like their
big brothers... the Turbos....

 

[demonsp]

Then look here also.They fact they multipy so fast means they would control a reef tank more then you.

http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/Hitchsnails.html

 

[Reef Aquatics]

Again..those are not Sundial snails in mvergas photo...
Ive seen Sundial snails and those are not them...

Yes demonsp you should look at that link you posted...
same snails as in mvergas photos are listed there...the
snails are Collinista ( Harmless algae grazer )..

 

[demonsp]

I have looked thank you.Its a blurry pic. IMO along with your alls opinon he can make a better choice. A reef tank is all about controll and looks.We add sumps for better water quality and less main tank clutter. After all that you try and take a good pic of your cool coral but always catch these snails in every pic would sook. Then they are very hard to control and may consume food that your wanted CUC needs to survive.This isnt a 100 trillion gallon plus ocean.

 

[Reef Aquatics]

wow... demonsp...relax...we are just trying to ID this snail...

The photos are not blurry it all...you are the one who provided the link...

If you compare mvergas photo and the photo of the Collinista snail on
the link you provided...

http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweety...itchsnails.html

You can clearly see its the same snail...and if you look on wetwebmedia,melvesreef
or on the link you have provided they all say that Collinista snails are harmless and
good algea grazers...

sorry to upset you....geeezzz

 

[Reef Aquatics]

sorry double post..

 

[demonsp]

Said they maybe and gave some good links for bett I.D. Sorry im calm.

 

[tankjunky]

if you want to get rid of some send a couple to me too

 

[Mike5252]

My trigger fish would love to have some. Please send. I don't believe he would keep them as pets though...

 

[EnderG60]

we call them blackfoot snails here, they are great algea eaters. I would suggest living with them and selling them to local stores or fellow reefers.

I only know of one other person that has them breading in his tank, and he has them EVERYWHERE. Once a month he pulls 30-80 out to sell/give away.