Snails for free???

[vareefer4life]

I live in hampton roads, va and was thinking of finally starting my mantis tank. What I would like to know is where/if you can find food here on the beach? I have heard of finding nasserious (sp?) sanils or ilyanious (sp?) snails locallay but I am not possitive where to find them. Anyone know how to find them?? Thank you.

 

[Doc Hammer]

Most snails can be found at low tide in tidal pools, crawling across the rocks eating algae and what not. Depending on the size of your mantis, you should try and collect snails that are at least half it's size. However, you should be aware that you run the risk of disease and parasites, but that's just one of the trade offs. As to snail species, I doubt it really matters as long as your mantis is willing to hunt them all down. You may even want to pick up some small hermits while there.

 

[Doc Hammer]

EDIT: Disease and parasites for your mantis, not you

 

[Pea-brain]

Disease and parasites are very uncommon with stomatopods. I think the only parasite I'VE heard of is The parasitic snail that spends its entire life on the underside of a mantis (very unlikely to get) and shell disease in larger mantises. Also, in H. californiensis they commonly get a fungus that covers them and they rarely survive past 4 months in captivity. There are most likely many other diseases, but The risk of your mantis getting any diseases/parasites is incredibly low imo

 

[justinl]

while you're out picking up snails/hermits why dont you pick up a few small crabs? they make the best show by far. hermits/snails are just pulled into the burrow and out of sight... which is kinda disappointing.

you might want a separate QT containment for the live wild food as they may have toxins/foreign crap in them that may kill stuff in the tank and/or infest the tank with offspring. I also wouldnt feed them to the mantis without at least a month of QT so you can be sure the things' digestive systems are flushed out.

 

[dragonforce]

think this would work in the tide pools in southern california?

 

[Pea-brain]

I agree with justinl. Toxins could be a problem.

 

[Doc Hammer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9997083#post9997083 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dragonforce
think this would work in the tide pools in southern california?

I might be new to aquariums, but I'm not new to the biology thing! As long as you can find some tidal pools at low tide, you can find snails and hermits, and this applies to everywhere, not just warm waters. I've found tons of hermits and snails in tidal pools while vacationing in Rhode Island.

 

[Altpers0na-old]

i wouldnt use anything collected from the shores around hampton roads...

that water is terrible...

 

[DanInSD]

There are other issues. Pea-brain said that "disease and parasites are very uncommon with stomatopods". From what I understand, this is not necessarily the case -- just that they are not well-described (or understood). There are the well-known "shell disease" issues as well as species-specific disease issues (like fungal disease in H. californeus (sp?)). It is uncertain how many "random deaths" are due toxins or some (unknown/undescribed/unresearched) disease process.

A little "closer to home", many areas require special permits for collection. I know that is the case in San Diego. Also, local shellfish are dangerous to eat during certain times of the year due to the presence of dinoflagellate ("red tide") toxins. We have an active red tide now, for instance, and filter feeders would likely have toxin accumulation. I certainly wouldn't feed a local snail to my peacock. Those toxins are NASTY.

Long story short, I wouldn't risk it (either from a legal or safety perspective).