What is the best snail?

[Cathy1]

I'm trying to figure out what kind of snail is best for a reef aquarium and how many per gallon. Any ideas?

 

[dc]

I'm not sure on how many per gallon, but I like astreas, and ceriths for algae cleanup, and nassarius for food cleanup.

 

[Sk8r]

Personally I like the ceriths, but they're not as hardy as the astraeas. And I like the margaritas: they do good glasswork, and can right themselves when they fall over--astraeas can't.

But for general use: the little strombus grazers, sometimes known as colonistas, and the stomatellas. They get into nooks and take care of their own reproduction. They're hitchers. I don't think you can buy one.

 

[sjfishguy]

I have had all types of snails over the years and have just come across Trochus snails. These things are THE BEST! They eat all types of pest algae and wipe the rocks clean. The look like astreas but have green specks in the shell.

 

[SuperNerd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8069885#post8069885 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
And I like the margaritas: they do good glasswork, and can right themselves when they fall over--astraeas can't.

I thought margarita snails were temperate or coldwater species. How long have you had them in your tank?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8069046#post8069046 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cathy1
I'm trying to figure out what kind of snail is best for a reef aquarium and how many per gallon. Any ideas?

I personally like to keep a mixture and stock extremely lightly now. Even though I never completely followed that "snail per gallon rule" it still resulted in a lot of snail deaths on my side. If you put too many they end up starving to death and they won't ever get rid of all your algae. You will also need to clean it yourself.

 

[Cathy1]

Yeah that is what I'm really worried about is having to many and have some starve. Another thing is I don't have any good marine stores locally so I don't have much selection. I don't want ot order because shipping is so expensive. What about bumble bee snails? Are they good for algae removal or are they just cute?

 

[SuperNerd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8071129#post8071129 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cathy1
What about bumble bee snails? Are they good for algae removal or are they just cute?

No. They eat little animals in the sand and LR. Not an algae eater. Strombus, turbo, astrea, cerith are all good as are stomatella.

 

[Cathy1]

I went and got a snail today. The pet store said it was a turbo snail but I wasn't sure. It is about 1/2 in and brown with whitish stripes but its not a bumble bee snail.