Sundial Snails

[ShilohPSU]

So I have been searching for a zoa predator for months now. I asked the zoa forum a few times asking if there was anything that ate zoanthids, but nobody really knew of a strictly zoa predator. Well i just spoke with someone who knows a lot about reef tanks and he told me about sundial snails. They apparently only eat zoas and will not harm other corals. Where can I buy these amazing little creatures? Zoas will soon take over my tank if I can't find something that eats them.

 

[Elysia]

Your best bet would be to frequent someplace that gets in lots of shipments of wild collected zoanthids. Despite their tell-tale shell, they often can be difficult to see on the colonies. Do a lot of inspecting of the colonies, and when you find one, ask the store owner if you can have it. I would think it would be a lot easier to sell the zoas (there is a frag swap @ PSU in just a few weeks)... a lot of times you can pull up entire mats of them. Or, if they have covered your rock, sell the rock and use the money to buy new rock. If you have palys, the sundials may eat them, as well.

 

[pagojoe]

Some of the sundials are particular about which zoanthids they eat. The most common two species feed on the most common zoanthids in the hobby, so look for the snails on the same zoanthid species that you have, and you should be in good shape if you find some.

Cheers,



Don

 

[charlesr1958]

Somehow I doubt that the introduction of such snails would have any great control on your zoanthids. I say that because I have inspected many very large, wild colonys that have had a great many of these snails and yet the colony appears healthy and gaining ground. I believe it will come down to you having to trim them yourself.

Chuck

 

[username in use]

ill tell you what, any zoas you dont want, feel free to send to me.

 

[bsmith22]

+1 on sending out free zoas!!!