Cannibal Nassarius Snails

Reeflovinlexy · 11/11/2013, 10:36 AM

I'v e had my tank set up for 4 months now and was having some problems with Diatoms and wanted to keep the sand clean so I bought 7 Nassarius snails to add to the 3 I already hadhad also had 3 turbo snails, 3 Cerith snails and 3 asteria snails. Two days ago I noticed one of my Nassarius snails overturned with two other Nassarius snails on top eating the snail. I reached in and knocked the other two off and righted the snail. That didn't help and eventually there were 3 Nassarius snails that ate him. This morning I go to look at the tank and there are 6 Nassarius snails and a cleaner shrimp eating one of my turbo snails. I had no clue this could even happen! Did I get too many Nassarius snails? There is still ditrius at the bottom of the tank so I don't think it's a problem of them not having enough food. Please help advise!

ganjero · 11/11/2013, 10:42 AM

Snails are scavengers, they are eating those snails because they died or are dying due to other reasons, they are not killing them.

How old is you tank? How did you acclimate the snails? is there enough food for they to consume?

Reeflovinlexy · 11/11/2013, 11:07 AM

I've had the tank up and running for over 4 months now and the water parameters are treated weekly and are great. I got the new Nassarius snails 3 weeks ago and I floated then for 15 minutes and then drip acclimated them for 30 minutes. I still see detrius on the sand so I think there is enough food for them or there wouldn't be extra food on the sand right? Also, I actually feed my cleaner shrimp and he was munching on the turbo snail as well. I'm thinking maybe 9 Nassarius snails is too many for a 75 gallon and their getting aggressive?

ganjero · 11/11/2013, 11:30 AM

They will for sure, including the shrimp, feed on fresh meat. Those snails die for another reason and that is why they are eating them.

What detritus do you see? They are not just vacuum cleaners that will eat the "dirt" you see. What do you feed your tank?

Reeflovinlexy · 11/11/2013, 11:35 AM

I feed my tank a combination of brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, flake food and pellet food. I can always see little bits of shrimp and flake food at the bottom for them to eat. I did cut down a little bit for fear of over feeding but maybe I will bump it back up since everything seemed good when I was I've feeding a little. Could snails really die of starvation in the 2 weeks that I've started cutting the food supply back?

11/11/2013, 10:36 AM	#1
Reeflovinlexy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 20	Cannibal Nassarius Snails I'v e had my tank set up for 4 months now and was having some problems with Diatoms and wanted to keep the sand clean so I bought 7 Nassarius snails to add to the 3 I already hadhad also had 3 turbo snails, 3 Cerith snails and 3 asteria snails. Two days ago I noticed one of my Nassarius snails overturned with two other Nassarius snails on top eating the snail. I reached in and knocked the other two off and righted the snail. That didn't help and eventually there were 3 Nassarius snails that ate him. This morning I go to look at the tank and there are 6 Nassarius snails and a cleaner shrimp eating one of my turbo snails. I had no clue this could even happen! Did I get too many Nassarius snails? There is still ditrius at the bottom of the tank so I don't think it's a problem of them not having enough food. Please help advise!

11/11/2013, 10:42 AM	#2
ganjero saiperchémibatteilcorazon Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 4,027	Snails are scavengers, they are eating those snails because they died or are dying due to other reasons, they are not killing them. How old is you tank? How did you acclimate the snails? is there enough food for they to consume? Last edited by ganjero; 11/11/2013 at 10:47 AM.

11/11/2013, 11:07 AM	#3
Reeflovinlexy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 20	I've had the tank up and running for over 4 months now and the water parameters are treated weekly and are great. I got the new Nassarius snails 3 weeks ago and I floated then for 15 minutes and then drip acclimated them for 30 minutes. I still see detrius on the sand so I think there is enough food for them or there wouldn't be extra food on the sand right? Also, I actually feed my cleaner shrimp and he was munching on the turbo snail as well. I'm thinking maybe 9 Nassarius snails is too many for a 75 gallon and their getting aggressive?

11/11/2013, 11:30 AM	#4
ganjero saiperchémibatteilcorazon Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 4,027	They will for sure, including the shrimp, feed on fresh meat. Those snails die for another reason and that is why they are eating them. What detritus do you see? They are not just vacuum cleaners that will eat the "dirt" you see. What do you feed your tank?

11/11/2013, 11:35 AM	#5
Reeflovinlexy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 20	I feed my tank a combination of brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, flake food and pellet food. I can always see little bits of shrimp and flake food at the bottom for them to eat. I did cut down a little bit for fear of over feeding but maybe I will bump it back up since everything seemed good when I was I've feeding a little. Could snails really die of starvation in the 2 weeks that I've started cutting the food supply back?