Pyramid Snails?

[ODOG]

I've had some snails reproducing in my tanks for quite some time now. I always thought they were ceriths but was recently told that is not likely, although I really don't have many predators in my tank. Currently no fish and only a couple of hermits and emerald crabs. The snails are cone shaped like ceriths. They start out white but eventually turn sort of a neutral color before finally turning black/gray. I haven't seen one get much bigger than 1/2" - 3/4" in length.

In the pic you can see one of the larger ones I have with a juvenile on it's back. There is also a medium sized one to the left.

 

[TwentyTwenty]

Odog, I just found some of the tiny white ones in my tank. I have not added anything to my tank in 6 months. The funny thing is I only have Astraea snails in the tank. Only about 6 or 7 survived the last week, but they are getting bigger. Still white though, if you find out what they are I would love to know. Can not find any info on them.

 

[graveyardworm]

There are different species of ceriths, and at least some are capable of successful breeding in our aquariums.

 

[TwentyTwenty]

Cool, thanks for the info. Do you think the eggs could have survived that long without hatching ? Could I have introduced the eggs through feeding ?

 

[graveyardworm]

Doubtful the eggs were introduced through feeding. There are some tiny snail species whose populations fluctuate. Usually seen when the tank is first set up and then they die back or disappear altogether. You may have these, and for whatever reason conditions are favoring them at the moment.

 

[ODOG]

Lol, I'd say these guys are more than capable. Just in that little picture I posted (it's only about 1" or 2" sq.) there are like 5 snails. My tank is covered in them. I also have epidemic populations of Chitons right now too. I think at anyone time I could count about 30 of them in my little 20 gallon display. Hopefully this means I'm doing something right, but I'd rather have faster coral growth.