pyramid snails
- Thread starter enemec1
- Start date
lovethereefer
New member
my lunar wrasse ate all of mine, but unfortunately he ate all of the good ones too
charlesjordanjr
New member
I had to let all of my snails die off. I then added a new clean up crew.
-Chuck
-Chuck
greenbean36191
Premium Member
No. They probably aren't pyramids. They're most likely rissoids. Pyramids hang out on their prey all the time.
greenbean36191
Premium Member
No, pyramids are obligate parasites. They only feed on other mollusks, and they specific within mollusks, i.e. snail parasites don't prey on clams and clam parasites don't prey on snails.
greenbean, could you link or guide me to the research that states this. ive looked my times and cant find anything. ive asked Dr. Ron in the past but it seams my request irritated him.
ive heard many aquarist state that they did have pyrams go from clams to snails or the other way. and i know that there are over 1000 different types of pyrams so it doesnt seem to unreasonable that one or a few my do this.
thanks Chris
greenbean36191
Premium Member
Well given the state of pyramid taxonomy and how well they've been studied it's certainly possible that several "species" with different prey actually turn out to be the same species. I wouldn't assume that diversity means that the blanket statement is wrong though. There are lots of cases where generilizations about large groups of snails are spot on.
This claim is something that I've heard not only from Ron, but also in marine invert and mariculture classes, so after hearing it a few times from a independent sources that I trust I've accepted it. I'll be the first to admit that while I might know more about pyrams than the average joe, it's not a whole lot more. I'll certainly look for some academic sources about host specificity for you, but it might be Monday before I really get a chance.
This shouldn't be something difficult to test though. Find some pyrams on a clam and put them in a small tank with only snails to feed on and see if they attack the snails or if they die.
This claim is something that I've heard not only from Ron, but also in marine invert and mariculture classes, so after hearing it a few times from a independent sources that I trust I've accepted it. I'll be the first to admit that while I might know more about pyrams than the average joe, it's not a whole lot more. I'll certainly look for some academic sources about host specificity for you, but it might be Monday before I really get a chance.
This shouldn't be something difficult to test though. Find some pyrams on a clam and put them in a small tank with only snails to feed on and see if they attack the snails or if they die.
thanks greenbean ill wait to see what you find.
i have also hard these statements many times my self, just about as many times ive heard the opposite, thats why im looking for documentation.
i dont disagree with the statement that they my be species specific. but to do that test with one snail found on a clam and to put it in with a snail would only prove what that one snail species might do. im worried about the 1 or 2 out of over a 1000 species that may
i have also hard these statements many times my self, just about as many times ive heard the opposite, thats why im looking for documentation.
i dont disagree with the statement that they my be species specific. but to do that test with one snail found on a clam and to put it in with a snail would only prove what that one snail species might do. im worried about the 1 or 2 out of over a 1000 species that may
greenbean36191
Premium Member
I was thinking that someone who thinks they have a species that's switching would be the one to do it. I did make it sound like I expected you to do it though.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8505934#post8505934 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tha cookie girl
It doesn't really help that to normal people they all look alike either.I've had the ones that eat snails, and do have the ones that stay in the sand, and I certainly can't tell the difference.
thats it:lol: some are big, some are small, but greenbean will find the answer
greenbean36191
Premium Member
Just so you know I didn't forget about this, I have been looking for info, but I haven't had a whole lot of time this week. After searching the Zoological Record, the only mentions that I've found of pyramids parasitizing Tridacna talk about the genus Turbonilla. The only mention of trochoideans being parasitized is by Oscilla. I'll keep looking for a more general statement like Ron's but I kind of doubt I'll find it. There isn't a whole lot on the subject.
