Why do we still use Astraea snails?

[zachtos]

I'm in the process of restocking my tank after a crash and am questioning myself... why buy astraea snail again? I have purchased nearly 500 of these buggers in the last 2 years and not a single one is left. They all died out slowly from a variety of circumstances. The only type that is really left is ceriths and some nassarius.

Question is, why do we keep using these snails that are so under evolved, that they die if they fall off a rock?!

It may cost more, but it seems like a waste of my money to order these as a cleanup crew ever again. I tried searching for related threads but can not find anything. Is there a secret snail tip I'm not aware of yet that the LFS' hide from me?

I was looking at 500 dwarf ceriths for my next order instead.

If I tip over, I die.

 

[tgunn]

I used to have thousands of cerinths in my 140g before an ozone overdose culled the population astronomically.

Awesome snails, they reproduced on their own, and did a remarkable job cleaning things up.

It was freaky to watch a time lapse of the tank done with my camcorder with night vision; the rocks were just crawling.

Tyler

 

[zachtos]

I'm starting to think that ceriths should be my 'go to' snail for my cleanup crew next, and maybe a handful of nassarius for detritus from my big fish.

I think it sounds like the astraea snails die from landing in the argonite substrate perhaps, and can't right themselves... but i've seen them die from getting pinned in rocks, falling through crevices, falling on their backs on rocks, and death by dinoflagellates (but others seemed to have survived that incident).

*I guess we get what we pay for? cheap snails, that the stores know are throw away and that you'll be back next year for more.

 

[IslandCrow]

I'm a much bigger fan of trochus snails, but they're just much harder to find. The closest place to me that ever sells trochus snails is over 50 miles away. I like cerith snails, but astraeas and trochus just do a much better job on certain types of algae. Turbo snails are great as well, but they just get too big. I'd say price is the number one reason for the continued popularity of astraea snails. Of course, zachtos's theory of a continued customer base for a snail that is more likely to die in the not too distant future may have some merit as well.

In general, though, I wouldn't get just one of any type of snail. A good variety is always helpful. I have a combination of cerith, trochus, astraea, nerite and nassarius.

 

[rishma]

I never keep a lot of any one type of snail. Just a few of each type I can find because I enjoy watching them.

I bought 3 astraea more than 2 years ago. They are all three going strong and quite large. I have never had a problem but my tank is bare bottom.

I don't think it is necessary to degrade this species. They clearly did not evolved to live in the conditions presented by our glass boxes.

If an animal dies it is your failure, not the animal's.

cheers

 

[zachtos]

Very true, astraea probably are not the best snails for aquariums, hence my question, why are they still so popular?

Just trying to see if anyone else out there figured this out, as if I have stumbled upon another LFS secret, like how they sell us baking soda and water or kent products.

 

[nismo driver]

personally I have a infestation of Oenone fulgida worms that eat virtually every sanuil ive tried other then Astraeas and nassarius. which in its self isinteresting, i wonder why this species are so unnappealing to the worms, if i put in nerite's or ceriths they are gone with in days, they also make it impossbile to keep shrimp. and i thing they are reqponsible for killing a ribbit fish and a foxface rabbit (both sleep on the bottom in the rocks, easy target for the worms)

There are more effective snails but at this point i cant remove all of my corals to chase after the worms. but i also have not had a single astraea loss, my oldest is probably three years at this point and double the size of when i got it.

 

[MileHighFish]

I have still have all mine from a purchase over three years ago they seam bullet proof, now ask me about Turbo snails and thats a different story. I cant keep them for very long I dont know what the deal is with them??

 

[blakemeadows]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14375916#post14375916 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MileHighFish
I have still have all mine from a purchase over three years ago they seam bullet proof, now ask me about Turbo snails and thats a different story. I cant keep them for very long I dont know what the deal is with them??

I've been told that Turbo's aren't from 78-82 degree climates but from low 70s... and theres the obvious reason that they fall on their back all the time

 

[MileHighFish]

I figured it was that I use to run my tank too cool, when I got my 1st chiller at that time most people I knew were running their tank in the 72 - 74 range. At that time I was able to keep turbos for a good amount of time, of course I have learned that the coral we keep are not from an area that is 72

 

[zachtos]

Hmm, well I decided not to kill hundreds more astraea snails and I ordered 250 cerith, 50 nassarius and 50 nerites for my 240G cleanup crew this time. My LFS guy was trying to convince me to get the stupid astraea again even though I told him how they kept dying on me repetadly.

 

[ctenophors rule]

just so you know, nassarius snails wont actualy eat the detritus, but the will eat the food your fish forgot, reducing your detritus.

i use trochus, money cowrys, some amazing, beautiful, mangrove snail, and ceriths. (*i call it the amazing beautiful mangrove snaiul because i only ever find them near mangroves, they are awesome, and amazing, and beautiful.


if any one knows what they are they are brown with white diamond shapes. i am interested, and these snails are excellent. maybe even better than trochus pound for pound

 

[zachtos]

yeah, i got the nassarius to help clean up after my 3 tangs and 1 angel.

I used to LOVE LOVE LOVE trochus snails. I had the purple and pink candy striped ones, and the spawned in my old tank. They are so neat, but they are so impossible to find now. or they are 3-5$ each if you do.

 

[ctenophors rule]

yeah, trochus prices have increased steaply, we at moaquaculture, if started, hope to help decrease the price in psl florida,and possibly branch out even further if possible.

 

[trmiv]

I like my astreas. I have all but two of the 15 I bought about two years ago. They actually bred in my tank. The first batch of babies are about half the size of the original astreas now. There are two or three other batches that are progressively smaller.

 

[madadi]

in my experience, astrea snails last the longest in my tank. i never found an empty shell and i bough 50 from ebay years ago. i actually had a baby hitchhike and now its just about full grown.

cerith and nassarius is a different thing. hermit crabs wear their shells all the time.

 

[xJake]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14366362#post14366362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zachtos
Very true, astraea probably are not the best snails for aquariums...

There are 2 tennis-ball sized astraea snails at the Toledo Zoo that would like to have a word with you...

 

[zachtos]

LOL, that's a huge snail. Well, I'm avoiding astraea's in my system from now on. I think it's irresponsible to place them in my tank after committing snail gennocide again and again. They just dont seem to do well w/ my rockwork and sandy bottom.

 

[john rochon]

I don't buy snails, I have hundreds come out at night that seem to do the job.
STOMATELLA.

 

[Kieth71]

I had astrea snails and 1x1 they all died to the vicious sand monster(they flipped over and couldnt turn themselves back).I decided to try and find a better snail and discover the trochus snail or turban snail.Here is a pic of one of them at work.They may cost a bit more but they are well worth it.They can also turn themselves back over bye themselves so you dont have to play that game any more.