Losing Astreas

ElCheapo · 06/17/2006, 10:52 AM

I have had my 90 gallon tank setup for about 3 months now and I have lost about 2 thirds of my astreas. Every day I find at least one of them on its back....I never had this problem in my last tank which I ran for 2 years. I would have the odd one flip over every once in a while, but not every day.

Could this be because I have used a really fine sand in the new tank? Could the snails be having problems staying upright on this sand?

Any suggestions on another type of snail that is good at cleaning the tanks glass?

kappaknight · 06/17/2006, 12:19 PM

I don't think it's the sand... if they are on their back, they probably fell from the rocks. There was a period of about a week where a number of my astreas decided to commit suicide by jumping out the tank. I'm still not sure what that's about.

Sk8r · 06/17/2006, 12:23 PM

These pointy snails are a species that can't right themselves when they get on bare sand, and they will die in that position: evolution fitted them for rocky environments. If you see one fallen over, use your scraper or feeder to nudge it over to the glass or rock and it will right itself.

06/17/2006, 10:52 AM	#1
ElCheapo Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 21	Losing Astreas I have had my 90 gallon tank setup for about 3 months now and I have lost about 2 thirds of my astreas. Every day I find at least one of them on its back....I never had this problem in my last tank which I ran for 2 years. I would have the odd one flip over every once in a while, but not every day. Could this be because I have used a really fine sand in the new tank? Could the snails be having problems staying upright on this sand? Any suggestions on another type of snail that is good at cleaning the tanks glass?

06/17/2006, 12:19 PM	#2
kappaknight Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 319	I don't think it's the sand... if they are on their back, they probably fell from the rocks. There was a period of about a week where a number of my astreas decided to commit suicide by jumping out the tank. I'm still not sure what that's about. __________________ Creator of RareZoanthids.com \| @zoanthids on Twitter

06/17/2006, 12:23 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	These pointy snails are a species that can't right themselves when they get on bare sand, and they will die in that position: evolution fitted them for rocky environments. If you see one fallen over, use your scraper or feeder to nudge it over to the glass or rock and it will right itself. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.