Snails!!! HELP!!

[PoriferaBob]

I just found one of those Pyramid snails or what ever there called on my crocea. I looked very closely to see if there were any more and just the one. But now Im concerned. IF I found one does it mean there is probably more? They can be very small and hard to see right? any advice?

 

[mbbuna]

if what you found is a pyramid snail then I would bet that there is more. is this a new clam?if so then you will need to check every 3 days about an hour after lights out for them and remove any.keep doing this for at least a month then check every week for another month.

 

[PoriferaBob]

thanks MBBUNA!!! It is a failrly new addition to my tank. It is my only clam at this time. It is about 3 to 4 inches with excellent mantle extention during lighting hours. The snail I found tonite was fairly large. How small can they be? In other words how close do I need to look at the clam?

 

[mbbuna]

there are many different kinds of snails that will pray on clams. Pyrams are small and white,about the size of a grain of rice,some other less common snails are larger but just as deadly if not more.i would remove any snail that show's interest in your clam

 

[Kirklan]

The snail I found tonite was fairly large. How small can they be? In other words how close do I need to look at the clam?

What is your definition of large. I would say the size of a grain of rice is large. I have seen them as small as say a grain of sand. Just keep a close eye out for them. If it was really large it may not be a pyramid snail at all.

 

[PoriferaBob]

when I say its large I mean about the size of a a grain of rice. Ive heard that they can be almost invisible to the naked eye.

 

[Kirklan]

Tough to say how many you may have in your tank. From what I understand they hide when the lights are on. I would follow mbbuna's advise and and take care of any of those SOBs now. They can get out of control pretty fast. On a side note I have had pyramids attacking my astrea snails for a couple of weeks now, however I have never seen any on my clams. I have been trying to get rid of them, but am not having the best of luck.

 

[datman422]

I lost 4 clams in the last year of so due to These Prymaid snails. I just lost another one last night. RIP. Are there any preditors out there that would eat and kill off these snail?

 

[Highlander]

Kirklan, pyramid snails are prey specific, so ones that attack you Astreas will not bother your clams, and vice versa.

datman422, many of the reef safe wrasses will keep pyramid snails under control.

 

[mbbuna]

there are about 1000 types of pyrams not all feed on clams,some feed on only clams and some will feed on just about anything.clams,snails.ect

the best way to get rid of them is for you to remove them your self.dont depend on a wrasse to do it. wrasses sleep at night.the night time is when pyrams feed

 

[sgolden]

for size reference this astrea is an inch and a half across