Nassarius Obsoleta snails

djcool563

New member
Hello i was wonder what these snails are good for and are they good for my reef tank? i was thinking about getting aroudn 50 of them and was told they eay algea and detrus is this true?
 
they are good for nothing....they will die in your tank since they in nature like colder waters....do not get them they are a waste of money imo
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6502684#post6502684 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jent46bow
they are good for nothing....they will die in your tank since they in nature like colder waters....do not get them they are a waste of money imo

What is your personal experience with them? I have a bunch of these that are doing great in 77 degree water.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6502684#post6502684 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jent46bow
they are good for nothing....they will die in your tank since they in nature like colder waters....do not get them they are a waste of money imo
Well then I guess I had better get the ones I have had for a year now out of the tank before they die :rolleyes:

djcool go ahead and get them. They are excellent scavengers.
 
Dubbin1 i think you have had at least one post on every thead i have made lol thanks. Are they just scavengers or do they eat algea too?
 
AFAIK they only eat meaty foods, not algae or detritus. I throw in something meaty for mine every week or so just to make sure they're getting enough to eat :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6502860#post6502860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djcool563
Dubbin1 i think you have had at least one post on every thead i have made lol thanks. Are they just scavengers or do they eat algea too?

I'm watching you :D

They are scavengers and do not eat algae. They are really good at cleaning up leftover food plus they are fun to watch pop up out of the sand when you feed the tank. I call mine my little army :)
 
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "NASSARIUS OBSOLETA"...

It is incorrectly labeled and goes by another name, Illynassa Obsoleta. It is NOT part of the Nassarius "family."

I hear they can live for years in reef tank temps while they slowly waste (or cook) away. I also hear they reproduce, but they are reported to eat beneficial organisms in the sand.

I don't know why people keep purchasing them and I also don't know why dealers continue to mislabel and sell them as "reef animals"...

They come from the california coast (http://www.exoticsguide.org/species_pages/i_obsoleta.html) and live in the mudflats of cold water areas.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showt...=25&highlight=Nassarius Obsoleta&pagenumber=1
 
the lfs near me has had them in their reef for a while. i just bought some today, how long do the live in nature then? more than a few years?
 
are you guys sure you arent talking about the Nassarius vibex? the Nassarius obsoleta (ILynassarius obsoleta) dont get in the sand as much, they will eat detritus and some algae. they will survive in the tanks however. they will even clean the glass. some have reported them to be more of a whelk as well

heres a link about them where Dr Ron discusses them:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=273372&highlight=obsoleta

i perfer these myself http://www.etropicals.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=43&pCatId=1289 the Nassarius vibex! they are great for a DSB. they scavenge for left over food. and like the higher temps of our tanks. get along with everything. they will come out at night and crawl all over the rocks and glass.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6504640#post6504640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kane4187
What about the cerith snails?
They are also excellent clean up critters. I have about 25 in my 75g.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6504640#post6504640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kane4187
What about the cerith snails?
yes indeed awesome snails. algae eaters as well! they will lay eggs all over the place which ends up being free fish food most the time.
 
The snails mentioned are likely Illynassa Obsoleta as pointed out above. I ordered them very early on for my 58 gallon. I orderd 50 and ended up with 65. They do a good job of scavenging and they do eat algae off the glass, though not as well as Astrea or Turbos. I have actually given away lots of these. They are agressive as far as snails go. I saw a small pack chase down a sick Kole Tang and latch on. Spooky snails if you ask me. I have kept several in a 10 gallon where I lowered the temp and give them a shrimp or silverside every now and again.
 
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