Is this normal? I picked up a pair of turbo snails to eat some hair algae in my BC29 but I normally see them on the glass. I watched one of them for a few minutes today and he was eating coralline algae off the glass (in one of the rounded corners of the front so he was actually helping me out). I don't mind them helping me scrub the glass but are they going to eat a lot off my rocks?
Turbo's eating coralline
- Thread starter freakin
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never heard of that one as Turbos are herbivores from everything I've ever read about them. Could just be that the coraline is in the way while the snail is eating and not necessarly what the snail is seeking out for food. Either way, I wouldn't worry much even if somehow it was eating coraline off your rocks. Eating it off your rocks will encourage more corline algae to grow. My tuxedo urchin eats coraline and believe me I have no shortage of it in my tank.
These bastards are going to town on my coralline and not eating their green veggies. One of the entire corners of the bowfront is clean of coralline and the turbo has been slowly making his way up it.
Also, it's really disgusting to watch snails eat.
Also, it's really disgusting to watch snails eat.
Inconservatory
Well-known member
Watching snails eat is one of my favorite past-times, but I may be a simpleton.
It's odd to hear about turbos eating coralline. Are they just eating the new, thin growths, or are they also chomping away at the thicker calcifications on the rocks? I'm talking about the really thick stuff, mind you. The stuff you have to chip away at with a chisel, not the thin layers you can scrape off with your fingernails.
Also, what is your other algae situation looking like? Do you have brown diatoms, green hair, film algae? I "+1" what Chicas said; They won't diminish your entire coralline supply.
Good luck!
It's odd to hear about turbos eating coralline. Are they just eating the new, thin growths, or are they also chomping away at the thicker calcifications on the rocks? I'm talking about the really thick stuff, mind you. The stuff you have to chip away at with a chisel, not the thin layers you can scrape off with your fingernails.
Also, what is your other algae situation looking like? Do you have brown diatoms, green hair, film algae? I "+1" what Chicas said; They won't diminish your entire coralline supply.
Good luck!
They're only eating the thing stuff on the glass. I don't mind it, actually, I just didn't think turbos were known for that. I've got a lot of coralline so I'm not worried about them killing it all =)
I have some green hair algae on some of the lower flow areas of the rocks. I think growth has slowed/stopped. I picked up a small emerald crab to eat some of it as well but I think he'd need a few years to get through it all at the rate he is going.
I have some green hair algae on some of the lower flow areas of the rocks. I think growth has slowed/stopped. I picked up a small emerald crab to eat some of it as well but I think he'd need a few years to get through it all at the rate he is going.
TWallace
Well-known member
This sounds like a great problem to have. I'd count yourself lucky and not worry about it.
