ilyanassa obsoleta--Ebay snails????
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- Start date
reefsnails
In Memoriam
Nassarius Ilyanassa Obsoleta
Nassarius Ilyanassa Obsoleta
Depends on which species you sell or who you ask....
Nassarius Ilyanassa Obsoleta
Depends on which species you sell or who you ask....
reefsnails
In Memoriam
Nassarius Ilyanassa Obsoleta/Nassarius Vibex
Nassarius Ilyanassa Obsoleta/Nassarius Vibex
Nassarius SnailScientific Name Nassaurius vibex, Nassaurius Ilyanassa Obsoleta Max. Size: Shell size as big around as a quarter is the largest I have seen. Their foot trails behind about a full shell length as they travel. Tank Size: Anything from a five gallon nano tank to a 1,000 gallon aquarium. One per 2 gallons is a good rule of thumb as far as tank population/distribution. Aggression: Not aggressive toward any reef inhabitants, but when it comes to detritus or uneaten foods they are tremendous and relentless scavengers. Hardiness: Very hardy as long as they are not exposed to high nitrate levels. Reef-Safe: Absolutely reef safe for all tanks with a 4" deep sand bed. A must in my opinion, as the ultimate sand stirrer. Available as captive-bred: The Nassarius Snail is extremely difficult to breed in captivity.
Physical Description
The Nassarius snail is a small scavenger with an oval spiral shell that resembles an olive pit, with a long tube like siphon that protrudes from the end of the shell. One of the most ideal scavengers and detritus eaters these snails are perfect for the reef aquarium, quickly consuming detritus, uneaten food, decaying organics, and fish waste. Nassarius snails like to bury themselves in the sand, which will help maintain adequate oxygen levels in the substrate.
Distribution
Predominantly obtained from the Atlantic/Caribbean.
Taxonomic Stuff you know you Care About
· Family: Nassariidae
· Genus: Nassaurius
· Species: vibex
. Species: Ilyanassa Obsoleta
Behavior
Nassarius snails will spend the majority of their time on subteranean patrol beneath the surface of the sand bed. They literally plow the sand providing excellent aeration while cleaning the sand by eating the detritous that accumulates. If turned over on their back, these snails can flip themselves upright. When you feed the tank, they sense the food with their proboscus/siphon tube and come bubbling out of the sand in search of stray meaty or flake foods. After they are finished they quickly bury themselves leaving furros of sand and a small mound of sand as a reminder they were top side.
Watching them in action is nothing short of amazing. If a Nassarius senses food in the water it will come swarming out of the sand where it might be buried, then stop and point its nose in various directions till it finally senses where the delicious aroma is coming from. It will then travel faster than any snail you have seen to onto the carrion. A "search pattern" can be instituted, where a Nassarius that knows food is out there but cannot sense its location with its nose will travel a certain direction for a short while then turn around and come back past where it started from. Amazing creature!
Feeding
No direct feeding required as they are detrivores/scavengers.
Breeding
Will lay eggs in the aquarium, but chances of propagation are very minmal.
Social Structure
As with most snails they are independent travelers, but I have seen a dozen converge/swarm on the carcass of a dead fish and leave nothing but the bones. They munch very peaceably together before returning to the sand bed.
Nassarius Ilyanassa Obsoleta/Nassarius Vibex
Nassarius SnailScientific Name Nassaurius vibex, Nassaurius Ilyanassa Obsoleta Max. Size: Shell size as big around as a quarter is the largest I have seen. Their foot trails behind about a full shell length as they travel. Tank Size: Anything from a five gallon nano tank to a 1,000 gallon aquarium. One per 2 gallons is a good rule of thumb as far as tank population/distribution. Aggression: Not aggressive toward any reef inhabitants, but when it comes to detritus or uneaten foods they are tremendous and relentless scavengers. Hardiness: Very hardy as long as they are not exposed to high nitrate levels. Reef-Safe: Absolutely reef safe for all tanks with a 4" deep sand bed. A must in my opinion, as the ultimate sand stirrer. Available as captive-bred: The Nassarius Snail is extremely difficult to breed in captivity.
Physical Description
The Nassarius snail is a small scavenger with an oval spiral shell that resembles an olive pit, with a long tube like siphon that protrudes from the end of the shell. One of the most ideal scavengers and detritus eaters these snails are perfect for the reef aquarium, quickly consuming detritus, uneaten food, decaying organics, and fish waste. Nassarius snails like to bury themselves in the sand, which will help maintain adequate oxygen levels in the substrate.
Distribution
Predominantly obtained from the Atlantic/Caribbean.
Taxonomic Stuff you know you Care About
· Family: Nassariidae
· Genus: Nassaurius
· Species: vibex
. Species: Ilyanassa Obsoleta
Behavior
Nassarius snails will spend the majority of their time on subteranean patrol beneath the surface of the sand bed. They literally plow the sand providing excellent aeration while cleaning the sand by eating the detritous that accumulates. If turned over on their back, these snails can flip themselves upright. When you feed the tank, they sense the food with their proboscus/siphon tube and come bubbling out of the sand in search of stray meaty or flake foods. After they are finished they quickly bury themselves leaving furros of sand and a small mound of sand as a reminder they were top side.
Watching them in action is nothing short of amazing. If a Nassarius senses food in the water it will come swarming out of the sand where it might be buried, then stop and point its nose in various directions till it finally senses where the delicious aroma is coming from. It will then travel faster than any snail you have seen to onto the carrion. A "search pattern" can be instituted, where a Nassarius that knows food is out there but cannot sense its location with its nose will travel a certain direction for a short while then turn around and come back past where it started from. Amazing creature!
Feeding
No direct feeding required as they are detrivores/scavengers.
Breeding
Will lay eggs in the aquarium, but chances of propagation are very minmal.
Social Structure
As with most snails they are independent travelers, but I have seen a dozen converge/swarm on the carcass of a dead fish and leave nothing but the bones. They munch very peaceably together before returning to the sand bed.
Re: Nassarius Ilyanassa Obsoleta/Nassarius Vibex
Re: Nassarius Ilyanassa Obsoleta/Nassarius Vibex
Actually Ilyanassa obsoltea is not in the Nassarius genus, but rather it's own genus, Ilyanassa. Hence the name Ilyanassa obsoleta and not Nassarius obsoleta, although it was at one time considered Nassarius obsoleta until a revision of the family was made some years ago.
Re: Nassarius Ilyanassa Obsoleta/Nassarius Vibex
Actually Ilyanassa obsoltea is not in the Nassarius genus, but rather it's own genus, Ilyanassa. Hence the name Ilyanassa obsoleta and not Nassarius obsoleta, although it was at one time considered Nassarius obsoleta until a revision of the family was made some years ago.
graveyardworm
Premium Member
An article worth reading for anyone considering purchasing Ilyanassa obsoleta snails.
Do You Know Who You're Dealing With?
Get to Know the Real Ilyanassa obsoleta
Do You Know Who You're Dealing With?
Get to Know the Real Ilyanassa obsoleta
reefsnails
In Memoriam
Nassarius obsoleta
Nassarius obsoleta
Well you know what they say about opinions......
a belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge.
Nassarius obsoleta
Well you know what they say about opinions......
a belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge.
graveyardworm
Premium Member
Ooop, moved on, didnt see that coming.
