1/2' conch shell snails

[azgard1]

I have a lot of ½ “ conch shell type looking snails that are in my reef tank. They looked cool at first but are now multiplying. Never get any larger than ½ inch.

Question:
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Thanks to all.

 

[lvsuckerfish]

post a pic they may be tradeable for frags if you have that many but do give your breeding pair away.

 

[azgard1]

looks like this.

View attachment 38390

 

[lvsuckerfish]

ID them see if they are reef safe and see if a local store with credit you on dry goods and live stock or with other local reefers...

 

[returnofsid]

Most likely Strombus snails. They're one of the few that multiply in captivity and are great algae eaters. 20 minutes after lights out, I could pull 50 off the front glass, every night, for quite some time and not notice a drop in population...lol.

 

[Top Water]

Good thing if you like snails

 

[kungfuchan2000]

I'd like to get some of those. Where did you get them from? I live in Seattle so if anyone else in Seattle come across some of them, please post and let me know.

--Kevin

Most likely Strombus snails. They're one of the few that multiply in captivity and are great algae eaters. 20 minutes after lights out, I could pull 50 off the front glass, every night, for quite some time and not notice a drop in population...lol.

 

[azgard1]

Thanks everyone.

I have a boat load. Why do thes guy mutiply so fast?
The always show up with a full 1/2' shell. Seem's like I never see them in small growing stage.

Aso, is it typical they get no larger than 1/2 inch?

Big problem is when they find their way into my return sump pump.

 

[returnofsid]

1/2" is a lil' large for Strombus, so I may be wrong. Most of mine are 1/4"-1/3". I do see many tiny ones as well.

Strombus are able to multiply so fast because their eggs hatch out as true snails, unlike most other snails. Most marine snails start out as a planktonic critter, and metamorphis into a snail. Because of this, they end up getting sucked up in our skimmers or eaten.

 

[azgard1]

Actually more accurately, mine are about 1/4 to 3/8 and 1/2 would be the max.

How can they build a shell so fast?

 

[returnofsid]

Could be because it takes several weeks for them to hatch, AND don't go through a Planktonic stage. Could also be that you're just not noticing them, until they're a bit larger. Like I said, I see lots of tiny ones in my tanks.

Here's a link with some decent information about them.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/rs/index.php

For more information, just google "Strombus Snails."

 

[arman]

I have tons of those in my tank too. they seem to be benifitial as they eat a ton of algae, but if you wanted to get rid of them, a larger wrasse would probably eat them