Which snails can right themselves?

[slam308]

Just wondering, of the common commercially sold snails, which ones can right themselves and which will die if they turn over?
Also, if you're feeling generous, what's their general use? General algea eater, hair algae eater, poop eater, cleans glass, cleans rock, cleans sand, etc. You get the drift.
Every source says different things, but as a beginner, it'd be helpful to have a guide list to some of the basics.
Also, how long does it take a turned over snail to die, assuming it's one that can't turn itself over? Minutes, hours, days?

 

[graveyardworm]

Astraea - general algae eater, cannot right itself
Turbo - general algae eater, repoted to eat hair algae, can upright itself
Cerith - Sand bed algae/detritus eater, can right itself, some species may reeproduce in aquaria
Nassarius - carnivorous sand bed dweller, eats carrion, can right itself

Others which although may not be commercially available are still very important and should be better recognized.

Columbellid - 1/2 inch max size, general algae eater, will reproduce in aquaria
Collinista - 1/8 inch max size, micro algae eater, will reproduce in aquaria, often comes in as a hitchhiker.
Trochus - Sometimes offered for sale, general algae eater, may reproduce in aquaria.

There are plenty more, notice the ones which can sustain a population arent generally sold. It will take some searching to find vendors of them.

 

[slam308]

Thanks Graveyard! If you were closer, I'd hire you as my personal consultant!

Any idea about Margarita snails?
Anything that specifically loves eating crap off the sand bed? (Literally, I mean crap and/or the brown new tank stuff that seems to grow here and there).

So far, the only snail I have that does more than sit on the rock is the Turbo snail. He actually cleans the glass a bit, but he can't keep up to the daily buildup. Is this just a "new tank" thing, or do I need to change chemistry?

 

[graveyardworm]

I believe the typical margarita snails are temperate species and would be inappropriate for a reef tank.

For the sand bed, cerith snails, and florida fighting conch. Astraea snails are good cleaners, however you will need to watch that they dont end upside down in the sand. My columbellids are awesome, I'll never have to buy another glass algae cleaner. Excessive alga on the glass could be a new tank thing, or inadequate nutrient exports, or too much import.

 

[slam308]

Can the columbellids right themselves? I'm worried that someone may get flipped over during the day and I won't be able to get to them until the evening when I get home. Could they die that fast?

One of the two Margarita snail I'd gotten was still alive, but the nassarius snails and the cleaner shrimp were picking at him. I put him back up on top of the live rock and he was back on the sand with everyone picking on him again the next night. I took him out.

One of my ceriths stays on the rock the whole time, the other sits on the upper lip of the tank and just moves from side to side every once in a while.

I took that huge Turbo out a couple weeks ago and gave him to a friend, maybe I should have kept him longer. I was worried he'd starve, but now it seems unlikely. Ah well, live and learn.

 

[graveyardworm]

Yes the columbellids can right themselves

 

[slam308]

Any idea where I might find some? Are there any online providers that have columbellids?