Nass. Snails fighting/mating/just being jerks?

HanoverFist · 12/01/2010, 01:48 AM

So I noticed my nassarius snails have been fighting with each other..or something. Today I found one dead with most of his foot torn off. I would blame the hermits but they're stocked up on shells and, well, as you can see from below the biggest threat to my nassarius seem to be each other.

Is this normal? Problem of overcrowding or underfeeding? Only have 7..errr 6.

Gave them some nori the night before this big fight. Feed the tank a sprinkle of flakes daily. Should be plenty for detrivores and herbivores to munch on in there. No fish yet so just lightly feeding the CUC and such right now.

The thing is it clearly wasn't just one guy being a jerk. You can see a few fighting. Also, i think one ate one of my dwarf ceriths. It had the cerith's shell pulled halfway into its own shell and I had to remove it..

ReefSwagg · 12/01/2010, 02:23 AM

lol. Idk about the snails, but that's just a funny video

Arkayology · 12/01/2010, 02:30 AM

Assuming that they are nass snails and not whelks, I would say that they are hungry. You seem to have a lot of nass snails for your size tank. With a new tank with no fish, there is not much to eat. Try feeding them some sinking pellets or drop a piece of RAW shrimp in there and see if they calm down. Either that or take some back to the LFS.

HanoverFist · 12/01/2010, 03:17 AM

I ordered a 20g CUC from ReefCleaners for my 40 breeder. Figured that'd be a good startign point. Knew I had to feed them. Was not aware they'd go all cannibal LOL.

20 Dwarf Ceriths
7 Nassarius
8 Florida Ceriths
5 Nerite

I've been feeding small amounts of flake and putting some nori in there for them. Just tossed 2 more pieces of nori and some food in there now to be safe. Shut pumps off and let it all settle. There's a feeding frenzy right now. Raw shrimp's a good idea though. I'll grab one tomorrow.

devilsthird · 12/01/2010, 06:53 AM

Mine do that when I feed the tank. If two get close to each other near food they battle over it. I haven't had any loss of life though. My hermits target the Cerith snails for their shells even though I have extra ones in the tank.

12/01/2010, 01:48 AM	#1
HanoverFist Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 626	Nass. Snails fighting/mating/just being jerks? So I noticed my nassarius snails have been fighting with each other..or something. Today I found one dead with most of his foot torn off. I would blame the hermits but they're stocked up on shells and, well, as you can see from below the biggest threat to my nassarius seem to be each other. Is this normal? Problem of overcrowding or underfeeding? Only have 7..errr 6. Gave them some nori the night before this big fight. Feed the tank a sprinkle of flakes daily. Should be plenty for detrivores and herbivores to munch on in there. No fish yet so just lightly feeding the CUC and such right now. The thing is it clearly wasn't just one guy being a jerk. You can see a few fighting. Also, i think one ate one of my dwarf ceriths. It had the cerith's shell pulled halfway into its own shell and I had to remove it..

12/01/2010, 02:30 AM	#3
Arkayology Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,597	Assuming that they are nass snails and not whelks, I would say that they are hungry. You seem to have a lot of nass snails for your size tank. With a new tank with no fish, there is not much to eat. Try feeding them some sinking pellets or drop a piece of RAW shrimp in there and see if they calm down. Either that or take some back to the LFS. __________________ -Matt in between tanks

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12/01/2010, 02:23 AM	#2
ReefSwagg Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 117	lol. Idk about the snails, but that's just a funny video

12/01/2010, 03:17 AM	#4
HanoverFist Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 626	I ordered a 20g CUC from ReefCleaners for my 40 breeder. Figured that'd be a good startign point. Knew I had to feed them. Was not aware they'd go all cannibal LOL. 20 Dwarf Ceriths 7 Nassarius 8 Florida Ceriths 5 Nerite I've been feeding small amounts of flake and putting some nori in there for them. Just tossed 2 more pieces of nori and some food in there now to be safe. Shut pumps off and let it all settle. There's a feeding frenzy right now. Raw shrimp's a good idea though. I'll grab one tomorrow.

12/01/2010, 06:53 AM	#5
devilsthird Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 63	Mine do that when I feed the tank. If two get close to each other near food they battle over it. I haven't had any loss of life though. My hermits target the Cerith snails for their shells even though I have extra ones in the tank.