100 Nassarius Snails for a 90 Gallon

asonitez · 02/14/2008, 08:57 AM

I'm trying to buy some cleaners for my tank. I have an opportunity to purchase 100 nassarius absoleta snails on ebay for 20 bucks shipped.. Is that too mcuh fro a 90 gallon mixed reef with a high bioload?

PSam · 02/14/2008, 09:38 AM

I think that's way too many snails, and I also believe those are a colder water / not reef snail?

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/mg/index.php

Are you looking at ebay?

Logzor · 02/14/2008, 10:05 AM

Price is good. They are reef safe and only eat dead stuff.

If you are breeding clowns or something and feeding like 4 times a day then it might be a good option.

Otherwise I would not recommend over 20 for your size tank.

I have 9 in my 55 gallon.

asonitez · 02/14/2008, 10:06 AM

Yeah its an ebay auction.

hebygb · 02/14/2008, 10:31 AM

I have 3 in a 65... sure a few more, but they need to have room in the sand bed... they live underneath and "pop" out when you drop in food that interests them such as brine, mysis, and chunks of shrimp. They litterally climb all over my serpent star while he tries to enjoy a meal of shrimp chunks.

PSam · 02/14/2008, 11:05 AM

You guys that mention you have them - are you talking about Nassarius obsoleta, or the others, like vibex or distorta? I just can't imagine the obsoleta will fare well in a reef tank.

Fun $ Pit · 02/14/2008, 12:00 PM

I have like 5 in my 90GA and I would not really recommend any more than that.

Vary your CUC. For example, I have 5 bumblebee, 5 ness, 10 zebra, 2 fighting conchs, 10 astreas. and a hitchhiker stomatella. My sandbed is spotless and so are my rocks.

Thank you, Drive Thru!

asonitez · 02/15/2008, 08:35 AM

I ate my snails.

kgross · 02/15/2008, 10:01 AM

The Illianaysa obsoleta are not nassarius snails, But they do fill the same niche. They are scavengers and work great for keeping a tank clean. 100 in a 90 gallon is not that bad. The bad part is that they are not tropical snails, they are temperate, and so do not do well at temps in the high 70's low 80's. The nassarius vibex snail are much better in our temps, but do cost a lot more.

Kim

JCTewks · 02/15/2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by asonitez
I ate my snails.

There's got to be cheaper food out there for ya'

luke33 · 02/15/2008, 12:20 PM

Just make sure they are the nassarius and not the one's sold super cheap that are not reef safe. Which happens on ebay all the time.

Gary Majchrzak · 02/15/2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by asonitez
I'm trying to buy some cleaners for my tank. I have an opportunity to purchase 100 nassarius absoleta snails on ebay for 20 bucks shipped.. Is that too mcuh fro a 90 gallon mixed reef with a high bioload?

umm... you live in New Jersey, right?

Illianaysa obsoleta naturally occurs in the Jersey tidal marshes.....

late edit: this in itself should be a good clue that this species isn't entirely appropriate for a reef aquarium. Personally, I have no use for them in my aquariums. You'd be better off with algal grazers like Astrea or "Turbo".

hebygb · 02/15/2008, 01:39 PM

True Nacarrius snails do not eat Algae... they eat dead meat... they are early responders to other fallen snails, and any frozen meat foods that are withing reach. They are very fast as far as snails go... rarely leave the substrate.

02/14/2008, 08:57 AM	#1
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	100 Nassarius Snails for a 90 Gallon I'm trying to buy some cleaners for my tank. I have an opportunity to purchase 100 nassarius absoleta snails on ebay for 20 bucks shipped.. Is that too mcuh fro a 90 gallon mixed reef with a high bioload?

02/14/2008, 09:38 AM	#2
PSam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,036	I think that's way too many snails, and I also believe those are a colder water / not reef snail? http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/mg/index.php Are you looking at ebay? __________________ ..no vemos las cosas como son las vemos como somos nosotros...

02/14/2008, 11:05 AM	#6
PSam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,036	You guys that mention you have them - are you talking about Nassarius obsoleta, or the others, like vibex or distorta? I just can't imagine the obsoleta will fare well in a reef tank. __________________ ..no vemos las cosas como son las vemos como somos nosotros...

02/14/2008, 12:00 PM	#7
Fun $ Pit Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Collierville, Tennessee Posts: 302	I have like 5 in my 90GA and I would not really recommend any more than that. Vary your CUC. For example, I have 5 bumblebee, 5 ness, 10 zebra, 2 fighting conchs, 10 astreas. and a hitchhiker stomatella. My sandbed is spotless and so are my rocks. Thank you, Drive Thru! __________________ Thank you. Drive Thru! Current Tank Info: 180G - See my Gallery

02/15/2008, 10:01 AM	#9
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	The Illianaysa obsoleta are not nassarius snails, But they do fill the same niche. They are scavengers and work great for keeping a tank clean. 100 in a 90 gallon is not that bad. The bad part is that they are not tropical snails, they are temperate, and so do not do well at temps in the high 70's low 80's. The nassarius vibex snail are much better in our temps, but do cost a lot more. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

02/14/2008, 10:05 AM	#3
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Price is good. They are reef safe and only eat dead stuff. If you are breeding clowns or something and feeding like 4 times a day then it might be a good option. Otherwise I would not recommend over 20 for your size tank. I have 9 in my 55 gallon.

02/14/2008, 10:06 AM	#4
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	Yeah its an ebay auction.

02/14/2008, 10:31 AM	#5
hebygb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elmhurst, IL Posts: 2,207	I have 3 in a 65... sure a few more, but they need to have room in the sand bed... they live underneath and "pop" out when you drop in food that interests them such as brine, mysis, and chunks of shrimp. They litterally climb all over my serpent star while he tries to enjoy a meal of shrimp chunks.

02/15/2008, 08:35 AM	#8
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	I ate my snails.

02/15/2008, 12:20 PM	#11
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Just make sure they are the nassarius and not the one's sold super cheap that are not reef safe. Which happens on ebay all the time.

02/15/2008, 01:39 PM	#13
hebygb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elmhurst, IL Posts: 2,207	True Nacarrius snails do not eat Algae... they eat dead meat... they are early responders to other fallen snails, and any frozen meat foods that are withing reach. They are very fast as far as snails go... rarely leave the substrate.