Help! Sundial Snail Infestation

NormanB · 06/27/2006, 10:10 PM

I recently removed a sundial from my zoos that was half the size of a dime. I thought that was the only one. I was wrong! Tonight about an hour after the lights went out I took a flashlight for a look see and much to my horror I discovered dozens of sundials all over my tank!!

What can I do? Do they eat other corals besides zoos? Does anything eat them? Any way to get rid of them?

Thanks

reefshadow · 06/28/2006, 12:09 AM

Are you sure they were sundials? I recently had a boom of hundreds of little tiny snails that look somewhat like sundials, but they are nocturnal and only seem to be interested in the algae on the glass that I can't reach. I was scared, because like you I had removed a heliacus from my zoas and though I had a problem. I would just carefully inspect your zoas, AFAIK, sundials are pretty prey specific.

If they are sundials, I would do manual removal from the tank, and fw dips on the zoas.

melev · 06/28/2006, 12:34 AM

Here is a thread with pictures of zoanthid predators.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...01#post5245201

If you do have a bunch of those snails, use tweezers to remove every one you can find.

DaveBrader · 06/28/2006, 12:38 AM

Many people , including myself, mistake Collonista Snails for Sundial Snails the first time they notice them. If you look at the picture of the Sundial Snail in the link given in the post before mine, you will see a Sundial Snail. A Collonista Snail will look similar, but they will not have that "Indian Corn" look to them at all. They will just be light and tan with a pattern similar, but quite different from Sundial Snails.

If they are indeed Collonista Snails, rejoice, they are great for your tank...

Dave

sloshesv · 06/28/2006, 01:16 AM

I got a positive ID by watching one chow down on some zoos. Just the one though.

NormanB · 06/28/2006, 08:31 AM

Thanks everyone for the great information. Upon further research and info provided here I beleive I have Collonista Snails. I am very releived at that.

Thanks again.

melev · 06/28/2006, 10:16 AM

Just in case for those that haven't seen one before, here is a collonista snail. It is the one hiding in the shadow of an Astrea.

Collinista snails are the size of a bb pellet.

06/27/2006, 10:10 PM	#1
NormanB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Mars, PA Posts: 163	Help! Sundial Snail Infestation I recently removed a sundial from my zoos that was half the size of a dime. I thought that was the only one. I was wrong! Tonight about an hour after the lights went out I took a flashlight for a look see and much to my horror I discovered dozens of sundials all over my tank!! What can I do? Do they eat other corals besides zoos? Does anything eat them? Any way to get rid of them? Thanks

06/28/2006, 12:09 AM	#2
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	Are you sure they were sundials? I recently had a boom of hundreds of little tiny snails that look somewhat like sundials, but they are nocturnal and only seem to be interested in the algae on the glass that I can't reach. I was scared, because like you I had removed a heliacus from my zoas and though I had a problem. I would just carefully inspect your zoas, AFAIK, sundials are pretty prey specific. If they are sundials, I would do manual removal from the tank, and fw dips on the zoas. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

06/28/2006, 01:16 AM	#5
sloshesv Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ft myers, fl Posts: 723	I got a positive ID by watching one chow down on some zoos. Just the one though. __________________ It's just sloshesv, your Honor Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef, 20 gal seahorse and leaf fish

06/28/2006, 12:34 AM	#3
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Here is a thread with pictures of zoanthid predators. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...01#post5245201 If you do have a bunch of those snails, use tweezers to remove every one you can find.

06/28/2006, 12:38 AM	#4
DaveBrader Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: St. George Utah Posts: 268	Many people , including myself, mistake Collonista Snails for Sundial Snails the first time they notice them. If you look at the picture of the Sundial Snail in the link given in the post before mine, you will see a Sundial Snail. A Collonista Snail will look similar, but they will not have that "Indian Corn" look to them at all. They will just be light and tan with a pattern similar, but quite different from Sundial Snails. If they are indeed Collonista Snails, rejoice, they are great for your tank... Dave

06/28/2006, 08:31 AM	#6
NormanB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Mars, PA Posts: 163	Thanks everyone for the great information. Upon further research and info provided here I beleive I have Collonista Snails. I am very releived at that. Thanks again.

06/28/2006, 10:16 AM	#7
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Just in case for those that haven't seen one before, here is a collonista snail. It is the one hiding in the shadow of an Astrea. Collinista snails are the size of a bb pellet.