Just spotted my first pyramidellid snail

[colettem]

Unfortunately last night I spotted a pyramidellid snail on my maxima clam. I've only had it for a month and its about 1-1.5" in size. Just wanted to run by the experts on here my proposed plan of action to get rid of the problem. At the moment the clam is attached to a fairly big rock which is going to make repeated removal from the tank rather problematic so firstly I'm planning on cutting the byssal threads next to the rock to allow easy removal. I've read that you can get these clams to attach to the inside of an open shell (from the conscientious marine aquarist by Fenner) so when the clam goes back into the tank I will put it in a nice open shell and hope that it will attach. I'm planning on repeated brushings with a toothbrush to remove the snails and placement away from the sandbed.

does this sound like a sensible plan? Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[mbbuna]

thats the way to do it. remove it an hour after lights out 3x a week for a month(brush even if you dont see any) then do it once a week for a few more months.

 

[colettem]

Thanks. Have just done it as I spotted three snails on it so thought i'd give it its first brushing while I could still spot them. The little b******s were very difficult to remove as they were clinging on. Put the clam back in inside an oyster shell on the rocks. Of course within 5 minutes a curious hermit crab had manged to catapult it off. So now it's back on the sand while I wait for it to attach to the shell before moving it onto the rocks. It has reopened its mantle so doesn't look too unhappy with all the shenanigans.

 

[Fridmani]

I always use a toothbrush to scrubbed them off. You might want to put the clam in Quarantine tank because they will multiply and infest your tank.

I've also had good luck with a Christmas wrasse which will eat them. Good luck.

 

[colettem]

Thanks. My QT has really rubbish lighting so I'll take my chances with it in the main tank. Now I know what to look for I can keep a close eye on it (at the moment it's my only one so not as big a nightmare as it could be if I had lots) and do regular brushing to get rid of any eggs etc. I'll have a look into the Christmas wrass.

 

[capefear]

i had the same problem, keep a very close eye on your tank i would bet that there are more of them in there, keep brushing i was lucky enough to have another tank to put my clams in and starve the snails. took a good month before i started to put clams back in that tank.

 

[Johnsteph10]

They will not multiply and infest the tank - the snails will stay on or close to the clam, and only lay eggs on the clam. If you continue to remove them as you see them - including the eggs! - you can control and remove them with good results if you are willing to put the time in!

Good luck!

..oh yeah - make sure you pay specific attention to the byssal gland area as the pyramid snails often are concentrated there.

 

[Vili_Shark]

Always use a tooth brush and scrub carefully all over, check carefully around the byssal oppening and also on the shell part thats under the mantle.
FME I suggest waiting more than 1hr after lights as I noticed that sometimes they go out few hrs later.
Few kinds of wrasses will be very happy to eat them, people here report the 6 line wrasse is good, FME many kinds of Halichoeres spp. worked as well as the quite delicate Macropharyngodon spp.
The main thing now is, do not be lazy, even if you scrub for few nights and dont see a snail, its not over yet, there might be eggs that you missed and a new generation of snails will suck your clam out when you thought you got rid of them.
Good luck.

 

[colettem]

Thanks for all the replies. Here are some photos of the infestation:

A pic of the clam showing three snails:

The snails following removal

The clam repositioned in its shell on the rocks (just befre the hermit catapulted it off!!)

Its looking quite healthy today - has had its mantle fully open but not sure if its attached yet onto the shell. No sign so far of any more snails but will keep brushing!

 

[jasper24]

I am having the same issue. I have a Crocea and noticed one snail about 3 months ago. I am still fighting them. The bastards get in the crevice between shutes on the top of the clam under the mantle and are difficult to remove from there.

 

[Fridmani]

Brusha, brusha, brusha....