Nassarius snails
- Thread starter newbcube
- Start date
Reincarnate
Member
I agree with the above, but then again food shouldn't be hitting the ground in the first place IMO. It's all about portion size. Also, don't forget about the bristle worms either. Much more efficient at picking up the scraps then a Nassarius snail.
TheOtherDB
New member
I've had two Nassarius snails that started out in a brand new, not yet "cycled" 5 gallon pico tank about two years ago. I still have the same two, in fact it looks like they've bred because every once in a while I see a small third moseying about.
I feed a variety of food, but twice a day I spread a pinch of my own blend of dried food, some of which hits the bottom. The "zombie" snails come up out of the crushed coral and start to forrage for bits ... so does the crab, fire worms and brittle stars.
I have zero nitrates ... and zero algae save for the pink, coraline variety and the crop of caulerpa I keep in the refuge.
If there's anything absolute in this hobby, it is that possibilities and outcomes are endless. Each system is different. Each philosophy has its own merits. Each of us has to persist to find out which combination of variables is going to work where our particular set of stars line up.
I feed a variety of food, but twice a day I spread a pinch of my own blend of dried food, some of which hits the bottom. The "zombie" snails come up out of the crushed coral and start to forrage for bits ... so does the crab, fire worms and brittle stars.
I have zero nitrates ... and zero algae save for the pink, coraline variety and the crop of caulerpa I keep in the refuge.
If there's anything absolute in this hobby, it is that possibilities and outcomes are endless. Each system is different. Each philosophy has its own merits. Each of us has to persist to find out which combination of variables is going to work where our particular set of stars line up.
scooter31707
New member
I use the .5mm New Life Spectrum pellets and put some in the tank at lights out about every 3 days. I noticed mines really becomes active when the light go out.
Reincarnate
Member
I've had two Nassarius snails that started out in a brand new, not yet "cycled" 5 gallon pico tank about two years ago. I still have the same two, in fact it looks like they've bred because every once in a while I see a small third moseying about.
I feed a variety of food, but twice a day I spread a pinch of my own blend of dried food, some of which hits the bottom. The "zombie" snails come up out of the crushed coral and start to forrage for bits ... so does the crab, fire worms and brittle stars.
I have zero nitrates ... and zero algae save for the pink, coraline variety and the crop of caulerpa I keep in the refuge.
If there's anything absolute in this hobby, it is that possibilities and outcomes are endless. Each system is different. Each philosophy has its own merits. Each of us has to persist to find out which combination of variables is going to work where our particular set of stars line up.
It sounds to me like you guys are treating your Nassarius snails more like pets as opposed to janitors. To each their own though. If one of my Nassarius snails happens to die due to starvation so be it.
TheOtherDB
New member
... cherished pets, actually. It turns out, they make great janitors as well. Who knew?
Take care of your pet janitors and they will take care of you.
Take care of your pet janitors and they will take care of you.
CrayolaViolence
New member
Which usually isn't possible if you have something like seahorses where you have to overfeed the tank to make sure the ponies get plenty to eat.
CrayolaViolence
New member
Considering good marble shelled nassarius snails cost as much as 3.00 each. I don't call it treating them as pets, rather not treating money as if it doesn't already have a very high evaporation rate.
Especially in this hobby.
TheOtherDB
New member
CrayolaViolence:
"...rather not treating money as if it doesn't already have a very high evaporation rate."
Which is why one should always keep a tightly secured lid over the jar in which one keeps their money.
"...rather not treating money as if it doesn't already have a very high evaporation rate."
Which is why one should always keep a tightly secured lid over the jar in which one keeps their money.
... cherished pets, actually. It turns out, they make great janitors as well. Who knew?
Take care of your pet janitors and they will take care of you.
Yup! I think they're cool as heck. Started with 5 a couple weeks ago and fell in love! Hermits killed 1 of them so I got 5 more....and a bunch of empty hermit shells. Now if one of those would starve(or all of them)..
GoVols
Cobb Webb - 1989
+1CrayolaViolence:
"...rather not treating money as if it doesn't already have a very high evaporation rate."
Which is why one should always keep a tightly secured lid over the jar in which one keeps their money.
LOL
This is the funniest thread I been on in awhile!
Always loved Nassarius snails too, before I went BB. They are awesome boogers.
Have to agree: They are dual purpose. Pet / janitor: What else could one ask for
My ribs are hurting now. I'm still (lol)!!!!!!!!!!
GoVols
Cobb Webb - 1989
TheOtherDB
New member
Hey, GoVols ...
We are here for YOUR entertainment!
Please leave your tip in the tightly sealed jar~
We are here for YOUR entertainment!
Please leave your tip in the tightly sealed jar~
lukewithcats
New member
i added a few and didn't add them until i had fish being fed but i only have 3 smallish fish and they are just getting flake and I fear the nassarius are not finding enough food, i could over feed but obviously would rather not.
I'm having the same issue with hermit crabs. I wish I had waited longer on the hermits and nassarius snails. When I feed the fish the nassarius come out the sand but they seem to just roam around randomly wishing they could find food and are even taking to climbing the glass as I think their syphons are leading them upwards to where the flake is more concetrated at the start at least. Any ideas what I could use to supplement feed blue leg hermits and nassarius snails that won't pollute my water?
I'm having the same issue with hermit crabs. I wish I had waited longer on the hermits and nassarius snails. When I feed the fish the nassarius come out the sand but they seem to just roam around randomly wishing they could find food and are even taking to climbing the glass as I think their syphons are leading them upwards to where the flake is more concetrated at the start at least. Any ideas what I could use to supplement feed blue leg hermits and nassarius snails that won't pollute my water?
TheOtherDB
New member
Hey, Luke ...
I'm not sure how to answer your question directly [or that I really even know the answer], but I have 5 small-ish fish and I feed them twice per day, I'd say its less than half of a gram in total. It's not flake food, but rather a blend of pelleted food that I've mashed all together with a mortar and pestle. Some of it is algae pellets, some of it is broad spectrum, reef safe fish pellets, some of it is labeled specifically for coral. I think the main take away is that since its not flake food, and that I "wet rub" it into the water with my thumb and forefinger, it sinks fairly quickly. Some of it dissolves into minuscule particulates that the corals filter, some of it sticks together big enough for the fish to eat, some of it reaches the bottom where:
- 3 Nassarius
- 2 large Red Trochus
- 1 Emerald crab with a quarter sized carapace
- 1 Tiger Conch
- 1 Peppermint Shrimp
- An uncounted host of fireworms, brittle stars and other hidden beasties laying in wait of their share
- A Black Long Spined urchin
... all competing for that half of a gram of ground pellets. They've all been there for going on 10 months now and seem to be getting plenty to eat.
I do supplement feeding of the crab and urchin by giving each about a 3/4" square of sushi nori about once or twice a week by hand ... i.e., it's not just flung into the tank, I actually dangle the piece in front of the crab while he dances to try to grab it, and [carefully] push a wadded up piece into the urchins mouth area. I also feed the fish about a third of a frozen cube of "algae-fied" brine shrimp about two to three times per week.
I vacuum up a fair amount of detritus from the crushed coral bed once per week during a five [out of 43] gallon water change. So far the tank has remained pristine and most un-problematic.
Not sure if any of the above helps or hinders. Hopefully you can find something of use to craft your own set of husbandry duties ... good luck!
I'm not sure how to answer your question directly [or that I really even know the answer], but I have 5 small-ish fish and I feed them twice per day, I'd say its less than half of a gram in total. It's not flake food, but rather a blend of pelleted food that I've mashed all together with a mortar and pestle. Some of it is algae pellets, some of it is broad spectrum, reef safe fish pellets, some of it is labeled specifically for coral. I think the main take away is that since its not flake food, and that I "wet rub" it into the water with my thumb and forefinger, it sinks fairly quickly. Some of it dissolves into minuscule particulates that the corals filter, some of it sticks together big enough for the fish to eat, some of it reaches the bottom where:
- 3 Nassarius
- 2 large Red Trochus
- 1 Emerald crab with a quarter sized carapace
- 1 Tiger Conch
- 1 Peppermint Shrimp
- An uncounted host of fireworms, brittle stars and other hidden beasties laying in wait of their share
- A Black Long Spined urchin
... all competing for that half of a gram of ground pellets. They've all been there for going on 10 months now and seem to be getting plenty to eat.
I do supplement feeding of the crab and urchin by giving each about a 3/4" square of sushi nori about once or twice a week by hand ... i.e., it's not just flung into the tank, I actually dangle the piece in front of the crab while he dances to try to grab it, and [carefully] push a wadded up piece into the urchins mouth area. I also feed the fish about a third of a frozen cube of "algae-fied" brine shrimp about two to three times per week.
I vacuum up a fair amount of detritus from the crushed coral bed once per week during a five [out of 43] gallon water change. So far the tank has remained pristine and most un-problematic.
Not sure if any of the above helps or hinders. Hopefully you can find something of use to craft your own set of husbandry duties ... good luck!
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