Should I remove these snails from our tank?

[nikonosis]

ilyanassa obsoleta

I know all about them not being the vibex and they die faster cause of the hot water, the swimmers itch, them not eating algae only detrious, and they attack things like pods.

I just wanted some peoples opinions. There is about 6 or 7 of them in our 45g tank, I got them for free but I now wonder if they should be removed.

 

[IslandCrow]

Since you have them, I wouldn't remove them. You're probably not going to get them to a suitable environment, and as far as I know, they're not detrimental to a tank. I hadn't heard about them eating pods, though (or maybe I've just forgotten). If they're going to decimate the population that's one thing, that's one thing, but I'm afraid I simply don't know the answer to that.

 

[nikonosis]

from what i read on reef keeping magazine they are pretty bad for a deep sand bed and that is what I have...

Besides direct predation on sandbed life, Ilyanassa's foraging is so disruptive that in areas where they are found, amphipods, copepods and worms that would normally be present are absent (Dewitt and Levinton, 1985; Hunt et al., 1987; Kelaher et al., 2003). To me, this hardly sounds "totally reef safe," and is especially troubling if you utilize a sand bed as a filter or food source for mandarin dragonets (Synchiropus spp.) or similar fish.

 

[c0mp|ex]

i have these and i am removing them. i have 4. they carry parasites and i do not want to take the chance of getting my other snails infected.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/mg/index.php

 

[IslandCrow]

You know what, I think I've read that exact article, but most have forgotten all of the finer points. Given that, I think I'd remove them as well.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I have a bunch in my tank, I like them. I've read that article, but I take it with a grain of salt due to my personal experiences. I've never experienced the fluke itch they describe, and I'm thinking mine must not be infected because they stay in the water. I actually like them better than regular nassarius because these guys crawl on the glass and eat algae too! Oh yeah, and they're FREE. I've had them for about 7 months now, they seem to be doing fine at 80*. I'm not surprised, because that's how warm the water I collected them from was.