Mexican turbos

[Chronicj7]

I bought 5 mexican turbo snails for my 55g tank yesterday and did the "drip method" to acclimate them for about 2 hours. I netted them in to the tank and put them in various places. 4 of them moved by this morning but 1 had just done a 180 degree turn and is still in the same spot nearly 24 hours later. The guys at the LFS said they are cleaning machines and are all over the tank but 1 isn't moving much, 2 of them are on eachothers shells in the corner, and the other 2 are moving around, but not like the LFS said they would.

Could something be wrong? How will I know if they are sick or dying? I was also informed not to add any crabs yet due to my tank only being about a month old and there wouldn't be enough food for them.

 

[olemiss reb]

Pull them out and smell-- you will know IMMEDIATELY if they are dead. Don't put your nose to close!!! I've never had success with these either. I recall reading that they are a cold water snail, I could be wrong.

 

[Chronicj7]

Is it ok if I just tug on them until they come off the rock/glass/etc? I don't want to harm them. They are all moving around now except for one. It isn't much movement but at least they are alive I guess.

 

[Frogmanx82]

I think 5 turbos are difficult to support in a 55. They eat a lot more than you would think. My bet, they will starve to death and in a month you will have none and when they die they really stink up the tank.

I would have only gotten one in a 55 and definitely have lots of algae for them to graze on. The people that say get one per 10 gallons are just wrong. Mexican turbos have huge dietary requirements.

Astreas, sometimes sold as turbos are much smaller and its easier to support large populations of them.

 

[want2reef]

I have 3 in my 120g the size of a golf ball, going strong for about 4 years now.

 

[Frogmanx82]

3 in a 120 is pretty reasonable. A four year old tank sounds well established.

Want2reef, do you make any effort to feed your turbos? Does your tank have any haiir algae or do they make it on film algaes?

 

[want2reef]

They just feed off of the film. When they get the chance, they will feed off of the Nori I feed the Tangs.

 

[Frogmanx82]

Yeah, I should have tried nori. I lost 2 turbos when I swapped my 75 for a 90 and there was nothing on the glass for them to eat.

Turbos are great, but I do think there is a misconception as to how many can be supported in a tank. I'm glad to hear that properly cared for they can live for years.