Melanuras attacking Nassarius snorkel??

pzlicious · 03/25/2012, 07:27 PM

Hello all,

I put 5 nassarius snails in my reef tank on Friday. They were active the first day. Since then I have not seen them. I dug some out today, and they dug deeper. When the lights turned off, 2 of 5 came out and there snorkels are half the length. Is it possible my melanuras wrasse bit them off? Thanks.

SushiGirl · 03/25/2012, 08:26 PM

Yep, it's possible. We had 5 in our tank, and they were always missing them. They'd grow back, then they'd lose them again. We didn't have a wrasse at the time, so my guess was the cardinals.

Reefmedic79 · 03/25/2012, 08:27 PM

I'd say it's possible; the snorkle look like little worms coming out of the sand, I'm pretty certain Melanuras aren't reef safe due to them picking at inverts and such.

cubsFAN · 03/25/2012, 08:30 PM

Agreed. Mine picked at my cuc regularly. I thought he ate all my nassarius snails, but I saw a couple left just before I sold that tank. They will eat snails and hermits.

pzlicious · 03/30/2012, 06:19 PM

Wow! Great thinking guys! Thanks for the reply. It definitely might look like a worm. He has been nice to my crabs. It is kind of ok now. I have seen 3 out of 5, and the snails are waiting to come out at night which works because the wrasse in tucked in in his sandbed! Thank again!

03/25/2012, 07:27 PM	#1
pzlicious Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 64	Melanuras attacking Nassarius snorkel?? Hello all, I put 5 nassarius snails in my reef tank on Friday. They were active the first day. Since then I have not seen them. I dug some out today, and they dug deeper. When the lights turned off, 2 of 5 came out and there snorkels are half the length. Is it possible my melanuras wrasse bit them off? Thanks.

03/25/2012, 08:26 PM	#2
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Yep, it's possible. We had 5 in our tank, and they were always missing them. They'd grow back, then they'd lose them again. We didn't have a wrasse at the time, so my guess was the cardinals. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

03/25/2012, 08:27 PM	#3
Reefmedic79 Life and Reef Saver Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tavares, Florida Posts: 6,202	I'd say it's possible; the snorkle look like little worms coming out of the sand, I'm pretty certain Melanuras aren't reef safe due to them picking at inverts and such. __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> How much deeper would the ocean be if it didn't have sponges? P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sid Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, 20L Sump, 10G Fuge, JBJ A.T.O, 4" Reef Octopus, DIY Stand & Canopy, RapidLED Dimmable 36 Kit on 3 6" MakersLED Heatsink, MP10es

03/25/2012, 08:30 PM	#4
cubsFAN Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Lake Tahoe Posts: 1,550	Agreed. Mine picked at my cuc regularly. I thought he ate all my nassarius snails, but I saw a couple left just before I sold that tank. They will eat snails and hermits.

03/30/2012, 06:19 PM	#5
pzlicious Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 64	Wow! Great thinking guys! Thanks for the reply. It definitely might look like a worm. He has been nice to my crabs. It is kind of ok now. I have seen 3 out of 5, and the snails are waiting to come out at night which works because the wrasse in tucked in in his sandbed! Thank again!