Help cuc is dying!!

ibrat82 · 02/01/2016, 11:28 PM

So I picked up a cuc on the weekend for my new tank that's cycled. I was told that even though I don't have any algae or diatoms or much detritus I still need a cuc as per numerous people on the forum. So I picked up 5 nassarius snail 5 cerith and 5 blue legged hermits. I started small for my 100 gallon. Today 2 nassarius snails died and 1 cerith. The other nassarius snails I can't find and all the other cerith a are literally running for the hills. There all at the top of the glass. The hermits are fine. I haven't noticed them attacking the snails. I understand there may not be enough food so I've been putting small amounts of veggie wafers. I have no idea why this is happening all my water parameters are ok except alkalinity is at 5.3 dkh, calcium is at 305, and nitrates is at 10ppm. If these guys are supposed to be hardy why are they dying so quick??

Reef Frog · 02/02/2016, 12:16 AM

Your alkalinity and calcium is extremely low if those numbers are accurate. I can't say for sure if that would kill your snails, but you should get those elements in line. Alkalinity drives pH and I've read many times that pH shifts are really hard on them. So it's possible.

Ceriths often seem to lay around motionless for long stretches when first introduced. They also lay around during the day, doing most of their work at night. Are you sure they're dead?

Nas. snails (actually a whelk) are carnivores so feed them something meaty like frozen shrimp every once in a while, until there is left over fish food for them to scavenge.

Some snails need careful acclimation - especially if the LFS bag water is lower than reef salinity of 1.026 or so. I only purchase snails from stores who keep them in higher salinity water - not the low salinity reef water used for the fish.

OrQidz · 02/02/2016, 12:53 AM

Reef Frog makes good points. The nassarius will disappear into the sandbed so you may not be seeing them.

WaReefer458 · 02/02/2016, 03:37 AM

Yup. The nassarius will go into the sand bed. Something cool to do is put a small piece of cocktail shrimp on the sand bed and watch. They will come out of the sand bed and hone in on it fast. Kinda cool to watch

02/01/2016, 11:28 PM	#1
ibrat82 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 292	Help cuc is dying!! So I picked up a cuc on the weekend for my new tank that's cycled. I was told that even though I don't have any algae or diatoms or much detritus I still need a cuc as per numerous people on the forum. So I picked up 5 nassarius snail 5 cerith and 5 blue legged hermits. I started small for my 100 gallon. Today 2 nassarius snails died and 1 cerith. The other nassarius snails I can't find and all the other cerith a are literally running for the hills. There all at the top of the glass. The hermits are fine. I haven't noticed them attacking the snails. I understand there may not be enough food so I've been putting small amounts of veggie wafers. I have no idea why this is happening all my water parameters are ok except alkalinity is at 5.3 dkh, calcium is at 305, and nitrates is at 10ppm. If these guys are supposed to be hardy why are they dying so quick??

02/02/2016, 12:16 AM	#2
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	Your alkalinity and calcium is extremely low if those numbers are accurate. I can't say for sure if that would kill your snails, but you should get those elements in line. Alkalinity drives pH and I've read many times that pH shifts are really hard on them. So it's possible. Ceriths often seem to lay around motionless for long stretches when first introduced. They also lay around during the day, doing most of their work at night. Are you sure they're dead? Nas. snails (actually a whelk) are carnivores so feed them something meaty like frozen shrimp every once in a while, until there is left over fish food for them to scavenge. Some snails need careful acclimation - especially if the LFS bag water is lower than reef salinity of 1.026 or so. I only purchase snails from stores who keep them in higher salinity water - not the low salinity reef water used for the fish.

02/02/2016, 12:53 AM	#3
OrQidz Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 825	Reef Frog makes good points. The nassarius will disappear into the sandbed so you may not be seeing them.

02/02/2016, 03:37 AM	#4
WaReefer458 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 333	Yup. The nassarius will go into the sand bed. Something cool to do is put a small piece of cocktail shrimp on the sand bed and watch. They will come out of the sand bed and hone in on it fast. Kinda cool to watch