Snail life span

Ronny#66 · 06/20/2008, 03:48 PM

What is the average life span . Always see empty shells .

Dentoid · 06/20/2008, 04:02 PM

Good question Ronnie!

The life span of any creature varies from species to species. I would expect their life span to be longer in captivity since in nature death is usually by predation. Perhaps, if you are seeing shell litter around your tank, there is a predator afoot that has gone un-noticed?

reefergeorge · 06/20/2008, 04:18 PM

I have a few that are 2 years old. I don't know how long they are supposed to live though.
Do you have hermits? They usually kill snails for their shells.

Sk8r · 06/20/2008, 04:21 PM

Margaritas are the shortest lived in our tanks, because, IU, they're a coldwater species and don't like the heat.
Astraeas die early because owners don't know to right them when they fall over: they can't crawl on fine sand...can scarcely make it on rubble.

greenbean36191 · 06/20/2008, 04:35 PM

It depends greatly on which snails we're talking about. Some may only live only 4-5 years under ideal conditions while others can live for 120+ years. None have lifespans short enough that they will need regular replenishment if they're dying of old age.

Ronny#66 · 06/20/2008, 05:13 PM

I lose them here and there hard to tell how many i leav a few shells just for looks .I do lose them.I have two emeralds few small the cheap ones long roundish shell same as the cheap snail shell look .

Ronny#66 · 06/20/2008, 05:15 PM

I spell it RONNY my wife is from Virginia Norton. I was a coal miner in Norton. Deep mine Low coal!!

pagojoe · 06/21/2008, 12:08 PM

Ya, for the smaller tropical snails, and some of the larger ones even, the average is three to five years on the reef. There are tons of exceptions to this rule of thumb, but it's usually not far off. Typically, the warmer the water, the shorter the natural life span. Species that occur in equatorial locations as well as say, Hawaii, usually live longer in the cooler waters of Hawaii. They also take longer to reach maturity in cooler water. Hot water = live fast, die young. You see this magnified when you put fairly temperate snails like the "margaritas" in reef tanks.

Cheers,

Don

Aquarist007 · 06/21/2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by greenbean36191
It depends greatly on which snails we're talking about. Some may only live only 4-5 years under ideal conditions while others can live for 120+ years. None have lifespans short enough that they will need regular replenishment if they're dying of old age.

would have reference or a link to a chart of the common ones we have in our tanks?

06/20/2008, 03:48 PM	#1
Ronny#66 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Twilight zone Posts: 1,839	Snail life span What is the average life span . Always see empty shells .

06/20/2008, 04:18 PM	#3
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	I have a few that are 2 years old. I don't know how long they are supposed to live though. Do you have hermits? They usually kill snails for their shells. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

06/20/2008, 04:21 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Margaritas are the shortest lived in our tanks, because, IU, they're a coldwater species and don't like the heat. Astraeas die early because owners don't know to right them when they fall over: they can't crawl on fine sand...can scarcely make it on rubble. __________________ 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%.

06/20/2008, 04:35 PM	#5
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	It depends greatly on which snails we're talking about. Some may only live only 4-5 years under ideal conditions while others can live for 120+ years. None have lifespans short enough that they will need regular replenishment if they're dying of old age. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

06/20/2008, 04:02 PM	#2
Dentoid Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 26	Good question Ronnie! The life span of any creature varies from species to species. I would expect their life span to be longer in captivity since in nature death is usually by predation. Perhaps, if you are seeing shell litter around your tank, there is a predator afoot that has gone un-noticed?

06/20/2008, 05:13 PM	#6
Ronny#66 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Twilight zone Posts: 1,839	I lose them here and there hard to tell how many i leav a few shells just for looks .I do lose them.I have two emeralds few small the cheap ones long roundish shell same as the cheap snail shell look .

06/20/2008, 05:15 PM	#7
Ronny#66 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Twilight zone Posts: 1,839	I spell it RONNY my wife is from Virginia Norton. I was a coal miner in Norton. Deep mine Low coal!!

06/21/2008, 12:08 PM	#8
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	Ya, for the smaller tropical snails, and some of the larger ones even, the average is three to five years on the reef. There are tons of exceptions to this rule of thumb, but it's usually not far off. Typically, the warmer the water, the shorter the natural life span. Species that occur in equatorial locations as well as say, Hawaii, usually live longer in the cooler waters of Hawaii. They also take longer to reach maturity in cooler water. Hot water = live fast, die young. You see this magnified when you put fairly temperate snails like the "margaritas" in reef tanks. Cheers, Don