cuc question

woogy · 02/21/2008, 10:43 AM

So far I have 2 nass snails, 1 astrea and 1 b/w hermit and 1 red leg hermit. I used to have about 8 nass snails but I keep finding empty shells so I think someone is having a snack.

Anyone have any suggestions on what I should get and how much?

I was going to be placing an order for some and they carry the nassarius, astrea, cerith and nerites. Is there any good choices there? Any of these I should avoid?

HammerDude33 · 02/21/2008, 11:21 AM

easy on the nassarius snails. they are good at cleaning up uneaten food off of the sand bed but they do not eat algae.
my nassarius steal the food off of my corals while i'm feeding. it's a real PITA.
astrea are good. the mexican turbo are the most effective, but they also knock over frags alot due to their size.
margarita snails do a good job in my tank, however, they are supposed to be a colder climate animal and don't live as long in our warmer tanks. mine have been fine for about a year actually.

cerith are about worthless IMO.
i don't have any experience with nerites.

i have about 25-30 snails tops in my 200 gallon display.
some reefers i know buy and keep hundreds of snails in their displays.
i don't agree with that at all. the best defence for algae is good water parameters/husbandry. in all honesty, snails do a crappy job at cleaning the glass. i can do a much better job with a mag float!
it's personal preference really.

woogy · 02/21/2008, 11:29 AM

for some reason my nassarius snails come at night and go up and down the glass and thats the only time I see them...i dunno if they r cleaning it. Is there a better snail for cleaning up fish waste?

02/21/2008, 10:43 AM	#1
woogy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western PA Posts: 986	cuc question So far I have 2 nass snails, 1 astrea and 1 b/w hermit and 1 red leg hermit. I used to have about 8 nass snails but I keep finding empty shells so I think someone is having a snack. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should get and how much? I was going to be placing an order for some and they carry the nassarius, astrea, cerith and nerites. Is there any good choices there? Any of these I should avoid?

02/21/2008, 11:21 AM	#2
HammerDude33 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Eastern, Pa - USA Posts: 258	easy on the nassarius snails. they are good at cleaning up uneaten food off of the sand bed but they do not eat algae. my nassarius steal the food off of my corals while i'm feeding. it's a real PITA. astrea are good. the mexican turbo are the most effective, but they also knock over frags alot due to their size. margarita snails do a good job in my tank, however, they are supposed to be a colder climate animal and don't live as long in our warmer tanks. mine have been fine for about a year actually. cerith are about worthless IMO. i don't have any experience with nerites. i have about 25-30 snails tops in my 200 gallon display. some reefers i know buy and keep hundreds of snails in their displays. i don't agree with that at all. the best defence for algae is good water parameters/husbandry. in all honesty, snails do a crappy job at cleaning the glass. i can do a much better job with a mag float! it's personal preference really.

02/21/2008, 11:29 AM	#3
woogy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western PA Posts: 986	for some reason my nassarius snails come at night and go up and down the glass and thats the only time I see them...i dunno if they r cleaning it. Is there a better snail for cleaning up fish waste?