pyramid snails egg sack

[rocknut]

Can anyone describe, or post a picture of a pyramidial snail egg sack? Just found about 20 snails on my squamosa clam today. I have noticed small masses of green, what I thought was bubble algae, bulbs for a while now. Do the egg sacks look like this? Also, what is the best way to remove the snails? I just held the clam just bellow the water level, and picked them off, is there a better way? Thanks! Rocky

 

[Barry N.]

Rocky,

The sacks look like clear jelly and I use a tooth brush, preferable not yours and check the clam every 2 to 3 days as some you will not get all at once. Get rid of all empty snail and crab shells in your tank as well.

One sack can hatch 2-3 dozen snails.

Good luck.

 

[rocknut]

Thanks, Barry!
One other question. Can the clam be removed from the tank to remove the snails? I'm not quite sure about this because, obviously, if the clam remains in the tank, the snails that are brushed off will remain in the system.

 

[Barry N.]

Yes, get it out of your tank..you can take it out and brush them off and it you have a q-tank set up I would recommend placing it in there for a few weeks to make sure you get them all.

 

[rocknut]

Once I get this outbreak under control (crossing my fingers...), what is the best way to avoid reintroducing these guys when adding new clams to an established tank? Scrubing down any new clams before initially adding them? Any other tricks? Thanks for the help, it is very much appreciated! Rocky

 

[Barry N.]

It is always best to quarantine any new livestock before introducing into display tank but if you can not do that, then I would inspect them very carefully first before going into aquarium.

I read that some people FWD (fresh water drip) all new arrivals before adding to tank but I personally do not recommend that. In most cases the clam is already stress out and putting it through the FWD can cause addtional stress. IMO & IME.