Can snails eat coraline algae??

Caliloaner · 10/23/2007, 10:09 AM

I don't know if this sounds dumb but can snails eat coraline algae?

Sk8r · 10/23/2007, 10:29 AM

Generally no: mouths are too soft. But urchins and little asterina starfish can, if you're seeing white trails on your coralline. They're generally harmless.

dileggi · 10/23/2007, 11:00 AM

I'm not really sure after reading the last post. Or, maybe what I thought was Coraline, isn't...and I'm still in the asking dumb questions stage! But, I recently, within the last week added 3 turbo snails to my tank. I had some reddish/purple coloration on my live rock. One of the snail was leaving a white trail behind him on the rock. Maybe the rock was already like that, but I thought it meant that the snail ate what was there.

Caliloaner · 10/23/2007, 12:25 PM

Yeah I don't know... I have some black snails and I thought it was coraline algae because it it bright neon green and it's on the caribbean live rock... If its not coraline then its the most beautiful algae I've ever seen....

dileggi · 10/23/2007, 12:42 PM

See what I mean...I thought Coraline was some form of purple/pink/red. But, like I said in my other post, I'm so new at this reef/salt hobby, a lot of my stuff has been trial by error if I couldn't get or find an answer on here.

But, I must say, I would love some neon green! That sounds really cool!

10/23/2007, 10:09 AM	#1
Caliloaner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: California Posts: 174	Can snails eat coraline algae?? I don't know if this sounds dumb but can snails eat coraline algae?

10/23/2007, 10:29 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Generally no: mouths are too soft. But urchins and little asterina starfish can, if you're seeing white trails on your coralline. They're generally harmless. __________________ 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%.

10/23/2007, 11:00 AM	#3
dileggi Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: S. Philly PA Posts: 1,171	I'm not really sure after reading the last post. Or, maybe what I thought was Coraline, isn't...and I'm still in the asking dumb questions stage! But, I recently, within the last week added 3 turbo snails to my tank. I had some reddish/purple coloration on my live rock. One of the snail was leaving a white trail behind him on the rock. Maybe the rock was already like that, but I thought it meant that the snail ate what was there. __________________ Eric "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Usual Suspects Current Tank Info: 90g w/30g sump; skimmer; 2x175w MH & 2x super white actinic...3g w/.5g fuge 1x150w MH Viper

10/23/2007, 12:42 PM	#5
dileggi Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: S. Philly PA Posts: 1,171	See what I mean...I thought Coraline was some form of purple/pink/red. But, like I said in my other post, I'm so new at this reef/salt hobby, a lot of my stuff has been trial by error if I couldn't get or find an answer on here. But, I must say, I would love some neon green! That sounds really cool! __________________ Eric "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Usual Suspects Current Tank Info: 90g w/30g sump; skimmer; 2x175w MH & 2x super white actinic...3g w/.5g fuge 1x150w MH Viper

10/23/2007, 12:25 PM	#4
Caliloaner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: California Posts: 174	Yeah I don't know... I have some black snails and I thought it was coraline algae because it it bright neon green and it's on the caribbean live rock... If its not coraline then its the most beautiful algae I've ever seen....