Trochus snails: worth the extra $??

dixiedog · 08/08/2011, 03:17 PM

I'm looking at basically $4 ea for Truchus vs. $1.20 for Astraea.

Is the Trochus really that much better, as far as being an algae grazer?

I understand they can right themselves, which is cool, and I hear they live longer. But I have no firsthand experience.

BeanMachine · 08/08/2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixiedog

I'm looking at basically $4 ea for Truchus vs. $1.20 for Astraea.

Is the Trochus really that much better, as far as being an algae grazer?

I understand they can right themselves, which is cool, and I hear they live longer. But I have no firsthand experience.

Can you get Margarita snails? Normally those are cheaper and are just as effective.

Personally I would get 4 astreas as opposed to 1 trochus.

thebkramer · 08/08/2011, 03:29 PM

I personally would go with the trochus..
I started out with 4 astrea, 4 trochus, 4 margaritas and 4 turbos.. I'm down to 4 trochus and 3 turbos!!!

especially if its a big tank.. so if they fall upside down.. you don't have to worry about them

jackinfobo · 08/08/2011, 03:30 PM

My favorite snails are red banded trochus. In my opinion they are the best. They eat lots of algae, don't nock over corals, and don't bother anything. Oh yea and they do right themselves over like you said. I tried both trocus and Astraea, and I had much better luck with trocus. The Astraea kept falling behind my rocks and dieing

cody6766 · 08/08/2011, 03:38 PM

Margarita snails, while they do a great job, are destined to die in a reef tank. They're colder water snails and the warm water in our reef tanks slowly kills them.

I'm pretty sure I have astraea snails in my tank. I also had cerith snails and they do a good job.

BeanMachine · 08/08/2011, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody6766

Margarita snails, while they do a great job, are destined to die in a reef tank. They're colder water snails and the warm water in our reef tanks slowly kills them.

I'm pretty sure I have astraea snails in my tank. I also had cerith snails and they do a good job.

Hmmm not disputing you but I've had some for at least a year... I didn't know that though and may forgo buying them in the future.

It seems I was outvoted anyways hehe

Birdee · 08/08/2011, 03:47 PM

Trocus over Astraea every time.

vorm · 08/08/2011, 03:48 PM

Maybe I'm just really lucky, but the only time my astrea snails have ever ended up on their back is when I knock one over. They seem like they always make sure they have a very good grip at all times.

I wanted trochus snails, but my LFS never has any.

Emerald525 · 08/08/2011, 03:48 PM

+ 1 on the Margarita snails. They don't live long for me and I have been told they are also fare better in colder water.

I have had better luck with the trochus snails and think they are worth the extra money because they do right themselves and are more resistant to be coming a hermit crab meal so in the long run they are cheaper because I don't have to replace them as much.

zigzag1 · 08/08/2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birdee

Trocus over Astraea every time.

+1 Over the years I settled on these two types of snails and without a doubt the Red banded Trocus are the best and well worth the extra price IMO.

Sugar Magnolia · 08/08/2011, 05:41 PM

Love, love, love my banded trochus. They are even spawning. I have a few baby banded trochus.

walkerbrody · 08/08/2011, 07:25 PM

astrea snails fall off the glass when the lights turn on, and can not turn themselves over. Eventualy they all die or get killed by hermits for their shells. I have some trochus snails that are 3-4 years old at least.

noahm · 08/08/2011, 07:58 PM

I put off buying trochus forever. Finally bought 10 for my 125, and kicked myself for being so cheap over the years. They are the best. I am a big fan of nerites for the glass as well, and cerith for poking around the sandbed and doing a bit of glass cleaning. Astrea are pretty weak overall imo.

dublo8 · 08/08/2011, 09:09 PM

Trochus are hands down the best snail I have ever had in my tank and the only ones that weather the tuff times,turnovers, wrasses and hermits. I highly suggest them.

---
- Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

AC2020x · 08/08/2011, 09:27 PM

Not to highjack the thread, but it sounds like trochus is definitely the best much over astrea.

Any other snails people would recommend?

How do you feel about ceriths or nerites?

chem-e · 08/08/2011, 10:30 PM

I stopped buying astreas years ago and switched to trochus snails. I stopped buying trochus a while ago too because I still have the trochus'.

Emerald525 · 08/08/2011, 10:36 PM

I also like the nassarius snails. They are nice sandsifters and just cool to watch when it's feeding time.

PurpleMonkey · 08/09/2011, 01:26 AM

I like the Tonga nassarius snails... bigger than the regular guys... do a good job of turning the sand over

zigzag1 · 08/09/2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

Love, love, love my banded trochus. They are even spawning. I have a few baby banded trochus.

Me too! I must have something eating the babies in the DT (6-line perhaps?) as the only babies I ever find are in the sump. Once they get to the size of a pencil eraser, I can move them into the DT and they grow up just fine.

dustinc · 08/09/2011, 08:32 AM

Trochus here as well. They clean well, are fairly small (no bulldozing), and spawn all the time. I love finding baby snails!

ravenmore · 08/09/2011, 08:50 AM

Margaritas are a temperate water snail and our tanks are a bit warm for them.

Might also try some chitons. Reefleaners sells them I believe.

sucker_fish · 08/09/2011, 10:10 AM

All hail the mighty fighting conch....but trochus snails are good too, like previously stated by others mine spawn frequently and im constantly finding baby snails all over the place (although they never seem to turn into big snails) got some ceriths, nerites and nassisarius also. Used to have crabs, not the make your crotch itch kind but the kill off your snails and steal their shells kind, needless to say i no longer have crabs.

TjwBlake · 08/09/2011, 10:20 AM

trochus is definately the best bang for the buck imo

tkeracer619 · 08/09/2011, 10:44 AM

Trochus
Mexican Turbo
Nassarious

Snails not to buy
Margarita - Will die
Astre - Will fall over and die
Ilyanassa Obsoleta (Nassarious Obsoleta on ebay) - http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/mg/index.php

Chris27 · 08/09/2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleMonkey

I like the Tonga nassarius snails... bigger than the regular guys... do a good job of turning the sand over

+1 They move quite quickly as well, and have a beautiful shell. They are actually Nassarius distortus, and commonly available both on line at at good LFS's. They cost a bit more then Nassarius vibex, but they are significantly bigger and move like the wind.

08/08/2011, 03:17 PM	#1
dixiedog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Gainesville, Florida Posts: 1,626	Trochus snails: worth the extra $?? I'm looking at basically $4 ea for Truchus vs. $1.20 for Astraea. Is the Trochus really that much better, as far as being an algae grazer? I understand they can right themselves, which is cool, and I hear they live longer. But I have no firsthand experience.

08/08/2011, 03:29 PM	#3
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	I personally would go with the trochus.. I started out with 4 astrea, 4 trochus, 4 margaritas and 4 turbos.. I'm down to 4 trochus and 3 turbos!!! especially if its a big tank.. so if they fall upside down.. you don't have to worry about them __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

08/08/2011, 03:38 PM	#5
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	Margarita snails, while they do a great job, are destined to die in a reef tank. They're colder water snails and the warm water in our reef tanks slowly kills them. I'm pretty sure I have astraea snails in my tank. I also had cerith snails and they do a good job. __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI

08/08/2011, 03:47 PM	#7
Birdee Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Orlando Posts: 62	Trocus over Astraea every time. __________________ 1:1 Ocellaris clowns('04) + BTA('05), 1 Yellow watchman goby('04), 1 Yellow tail damsel('09 lives in QT), 1:1 Scooter blennies('11), 1 Royal Gramma('11) Current Tank Info: '04 65 gal hex w/ MH

08/08/2011, 05:41 PM	#11
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Love, love, love my banded trochus. They are even spawning. I have a few baby banded trochus. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/08/2011, 03:30 PM	#4
jackinfobo Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 101	My favorite snails are red banded trochus. In my opinion they are the best. They eat lots of algae, don't nock over corals, and don't bother anything. Oh yea and they do right themselves over like you said. I tried both trocus and Astraea, and I had much better luck with trocus. The Astraea kept falling behind my rocks and dieing

08/08/2011, 03:48 PM	#8
vorm Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 210	Maybe I'm just really lucky, but the only time my astrea snails have ever ended up on their back is when I knock one over. They seem like they always make sure they have a very good grip at all times. I wanted trochus snails, but my LFS never has any.

08/08/2011, 03:48 PM	#9
Emerald525 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 101	+ 1 on the Margarita snails. They don't live long for me and I have been told they are also fare better in colder water. I have had better luck with the trochus snails and think they are worth the extra money because they do right themselves and are more resistant to be coming a hermit crab meal so in the long run they are cheaper because I don't have to replace them as much.

08/08/2011, 07:25 PM	#12
walkerbrody lost ball in high weeds Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gadsden, Al Posts: 504	astrea snails fall off the glass when the lights turn on, and can not turn themselves over. Eventualy they all die or get killed by hermits for their shells. I have some trochus snails that are 3-4 years old at least. __________________ "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." — Henry Ford Current Tank Info: 265 mixed reef, 110 fowlr, 40g fuge, 75g sump.

08/08/2011, 07:58 PM	#13
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	I put off buying trochus forever. Finally bought 10 for my 125, and kicked myself for being so cheap over the years. They are the best. I am a big fan of nerites for the glass as well, and cerith for poking around the sandbed and doing a bit of glass cleaning. Astrea are pretty weak overall imo.

08/08/2011, 09:09 PM	#14
dublo8 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Morgan Hill, Ca Posts: 3,225	Trochus are hands down the best snail I have ever had in my tank and the only ones that weather the tuff times,turnovers, wrasses and hermits. I highly suggest them. --- - Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 10g IM fusion. Zoa and SPS dominant, Apex monitored, Ai Prime, MP10, sicce return.

08/08/2011, 09:27 PM	#15
AC2020x Marine Conservationist Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: State College, PA Posts: 501	Not to highjack the thread, but it sounds like trochus is definitely the best much over astrea. Any other snails people would recommend? How do you feel about ceriths or nerites? __________________ In progress: 29g nano-ish reef with DIY LED Lights / Broken Down: 125g Predator FOWLR tank.

08/08/2011, 10:30 PM	#16
chem-e Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,350	I stopped buying astreas years ago and switched to trochus snails. I stopped buying trochus a while ago too because I still have the trochus'. __________________ "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: Elos [~] 70 powered by Profilux

08/08/2011, 10:36 PM	#17
Emerald525 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 101	I also like the nassarius snails. They are nice sandsifters and just cool to watch when it's feeding time.

08/09/2011, 01:26 AM	#18
PurpleMonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 78	I like the Tonga nassarius snails... bigger than the regular guys... do a good job of turning the sand over

08/09/2011, 08:32 AM	#20
dustinc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Waxahachie, TX Posts: 1,096	Trochus here as well. They clean well, are fairly small (no bulldozing), and spawn all the time. I love finding baby snails! __________________ You might be too strong to surrender boy, but you're far too frail to fight! Current Tank Info: 120 Planet

08/09/2011, 08:50 AM	#21
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	Margaritas are a temperate water snail and our tanks are a bit warm for them. Might also try some chitons. Reefleaners sells them I believe. __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

08/09/2011, 10:10 AM	#22
sucker_fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Covington, TN Posts: 441	All hail the mighty fighting conch....but trochus snails are good too, like previously stated by others mine spawn frequently and im constantly finding baby snails all over the place (although they never seem to turn into big snails) got some ceriths, nerites and nassisarius also. Used to have crabs, not the make your crotch itch kind but the kill off your snails and steal their shells kind, needless to say i no longer have crabs.

08/09/2011, 10:20 AM	#23
TjwBlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kitchener, ON. Canada Posts: 404	trochus is definately the best bang for the buck imo

08/09/2011, 10:44 AM	#24
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Trochus Mexican Turbo Nassarious Snails not to buy Margarita - Will die Astre - Will fall over and die Ilyanassa Obsoleta (Nassarious Obsoleta on ebay) - http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/mg/index.php __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

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