So, my wife got a 75g sw tank before we met from her brother with the live rock and live sand. I have gotten really interested in the tank, and am helping keep it up. I have determined we need more of a CUC (she and her son never added one to the tank when they set it up but it turned out the LR had snails in it.) So several snails survived (I am guessing 8-10 as that is all I have seen) but we have no idea what they are. Snailes are maybe an inch long shell. Very narrow and long, kind of pointy. Color is kind of a green/grey shell and looks very rough and rock-like. Any idea what it might be without a picture?
Trying to figure out what kind of snails we have
- Thread starter mjenni27
- Start date
No way to tell without a picture. Long conical shells are common for ceriths.
Don't go crazy adding a CUC. Most recommendations on the net are extremely excessive and actually add to the bioload rather than help maintain it. The better approach is to have a few different species that are of different sizes to get to areas others cannot. In your size tank I would add 2 Mexican turbos, 5 nassarius (only if you have a sandbed), 5 trochus, an urchin, a brittle star and a diamond watchman goby. With that CUC your rocks and sandbed will stay clean. I would also consider dosing your tank with a mixture of different pods if you haven't noticed a significant amount of them. Stay away from Asterina snails. They will eventually die due to the fact they can't right themselves when they fall. Hermit crabs are debated on here often due to the fact they kill snails for their shells. I enjoy having hermit crabs, however, my approach is to keep just a few and of species that are unique. Like Halloween hermits and Hawaiian zebra hermits. Add a pile of different size empty shells and this will lessen the likely hood of a hermit killing a snail for its shell. White and blue hermits are the most lethal (in that order), while scarlet hermits are a little more docile. If you have not seen any micro brittle star and worms in your tank I would reach out to your LFS or fellow reefers and see if they will give you some. As far as true crabs go, the only thing I would put in my tank are porcelain and pom pom crabs. IME, emerald crabs get too large and will eventually supplement their diet with corals assuming you keep corals. Finally, shrimp. A bonded pair of cleaners are fun to watch especially when they spawn. Fire shrimp are cool too. Both will aid in the cleaning of your tank and fish. However, some species of fish will eat shrimp so do your homework.
Remember nothing lives forever, so a clean up crew will often need to be replenished.
Hope this helps.
Don't go crazy adding a CUC. Most recommendations on the net are extremely excessive and actually add to the bioload rather than help maintain it. The better approach is to have a few different species that are of different sizes to get to areas others cannot. In your size tank I would add 2 Mexican turbos, 5 nassarius (only if you have a sandbed), 5 trochus, an urchin, a brittle star and a diamond watchman goby. With that CUC your rocks and sandbed will stay clean. I would also consider dosing your tank with a mixture of different pods if you haven't noticed a significant amount of them. Stay away from Asterina snails. They will eventually die due to the fact they can't right themselves when they fall. Hermit crabs are debated on here often due to the fact they kill snails for their shells. I enjoy having hermit crabs, however, my approach is to keep just a few and of species that are unique. Like Halloween hermits and Hawaiian zebra hermits. Add a pile of different size empty shells and this will lessen the likely hood of a hermit killing a snail for its shell. White and blue hermits are the most lethal (in that order), while scarlet hermits are a little more docile. If you have not seen any micro brittle star and worms in your tank I would reach out to your LFS or fellow reefers and see if they will give you some. As far as true crabs go, the only thing I would put in my tank are porcelain and pom pom crabs. IME, emerald crabs get too large and will eventually supplement their diet with corals assuming you keep corals. Finally, shrimp. A bonded pair of cleaners are fun to watch especially when they spawn. Fire shrimp are cool too. Both will aid in the cleaning of your tank and fish. However, some species of fish will eat shrimp so do your homework.
Remember nothing lives forever, so a clean up crew will often need to be replenished.
Hope this helps.
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ok, one more question: by pods you me copepods/ amphipods? If so, do I need to quarantine them and if so, how on earth do I ever catch them when it is time to add to tank? I have seen bags of pods at my LFS that I get my water from but was afraid to ask what they were and look stupid.
Yes, Copepods and Amphipods. No need to QT from a trusted source. Their cultures should be pure. Here's where I buy mine. http://www.aquaculturenurseryfarms.com
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zhkzisbvqzn76y5/20151124_211128.jpg?dl=0
Checked my tank tonight under actinic only. A little (1/4 to 3/8") see through bug that looks kind of like it has wings came out of rock. Any ideas?
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