Bumble Bee snails

monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
Ok, so is this another case of LFS salesmen not knowing what he is talking about or is it another case of "try it and see"?
I asked the LFS guy to order in some bumble bee snails for me as I have some things in my tank that they eat. He said that he hasnt carried them for a couple of years due to problems with the bumbles eating other snails asd well as them ignoring the baddies in the tank.
At this point, I could care less about the bristle worms. If I need to trap them, I have the glass trick. If the wife wants the black worm out, then All I have to do is remove that rock from the tank and let it come crawling out after a while.
SO, who here has had these snails and have they had problems with the bumble bee snail? I certainly hope not as my daughter has her heart set on getting 5 of these snails into the tank. I hope not for the fact that they are small and can get to places that other snails cannot.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I have 2 in my 225G......I have not noticed an issue, BUT...If I remember Renee (Cranberry) and Greg (Saxman) do not like them for some reason.....and I would take their opinions with high regard.....I'll try to find out why...:)
 
mrdc

mrdc

Active Member
Yeah that is what I remember about bumble bee snails. Can't tell if you are getting the harmful ones or not.
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
she, along with my wife, have picked out just about everything that is going into the tank. the only thing that is going into the tank that is completely my decision is the McCoskers wrasse.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

I found this information, just like the hermit that must have enough shells or it kills snails to get them, the bumble bee snail will only go after other snails when hungry. Me…I like bristle worms, Cranberry most likely does too.
Though peaceful, keep in mind that the Bumble Bee Snail is a carnivore. If there is insufficient food, the Bumble Bee Snail may feed on other snails in your aquarium or indiscriminately consume polychaetes whether beneficial or the more troublesome bristleworm. In well-established systems, most Bumble Bee Snails do not require supplemental feeding. However, if sufficient food sources are unavailable, supplement their diet with offerings of meaty foods, including finely chopped brine or mysis shrimp and frozen meaty foods.
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
I have read that before. I am aware of what they can eat, just never gave it a though that they would eat other snails if hungry. Moving on to other snails now. wooooooo hoooooo.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380946/bumble-bee-snails#post_3316226
I have read that before. I am aware of what they can eat, just never gave it a though that they would eat other snails if hungry. Moving on to other snails now. wooooooo hoooooo.

Poor thing…Its hard to please everyone isn’t it. Was it you that liked the Tube (fan) worms, If memory serves they eat those too.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
I own bumblebees and they are in all of my reef tanks and refugiums.
The issue is when there is not a good food source, they will turn to other snails and bristleworms. In a system with fish that are fed on a regular basis, bumblebees are usually fine. There is a risk with any animal going rogue, heck, I had a clownfish that ate my corals, so anything is possible.
That being said, I would not order bumble bees from a LFS, I'd want to see them in person first. I have ordered them for *********** many times and have no issues with them.
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by levinjac http:///forum/thread/380946/bumble-bee-snails#post_3316333
ummmm what about fancy nassarus they are fancy
I read somewhere that paying the extra for these fancy snails is pointless as they will take their pretty selves under the sand and you wont see them at all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380946/bumble-bee-snails#post_3316368
That being said, I would not order bumble bees from a LFS, I'd want to see them in person first. I have ordered them for *********** many times and have no issues with them.
Just to be as PC as possible, what about the bumbles from this site? I am still not sure that I want to take a chance right now. If the food supply is the determining factor, then maybe I can wait to get these snails at a later date.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380946/bumble-bee-snails#post_3316408
I read somewhere that paying the extra for these fancy snails is pointless as they will take their pretty selves under the sand and you wont see them at all.
Just to be as PC as possible, what about the bumbles from this site? I am still not sure that I want to take a chance right now. If the food supply is the determining factor, then maybe I can wait to get these snails at a later date.
Yes, fancy nassarius snails are a waste, they do the same thing as the regular ones but cost 3x as much just because they have a nicer shell that you'll never see.
I have never ordered them from here, so I can't really say one way or another. I think you'd be okay if you added these later on once your tank is a little more mature.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380946/bumble-bee-snails#post_3316444
Yes, fancy nassarius snails are a waste, they do the same thing as the regular ones but cost 3x as much just because they have a nicer shell that you'll never see.
I have never ordered them from here, so I can't really say one way or another. I think you'd be okay if you added these later on once your tank is a little more mature.
I LOVE my FANCY nassarious......YES, they do burrow in the sand, BUT they do a great job, they also come out in the evening (dark) and climb the walls of the tank too....
and YES they do the same job as the regulars, but they are MUCH larger, so do a bigger job
 
S

saxman

Guest
As mentioned, bumblebee snails are indeed predatory whelks and do NOT really act as part of your CUC. Back in the "old daze" before a lot was known about them, I had a few, and they were actually quite long-lived in the system they were in. They typically prey on much of the beneficial microfauna in your tank, but if starving will try and take down smaller snails.
Nassarius are excellent snails to have (I prefer them to hermits, hands down), but don't overstock them, as they feed on carrion/left over food items. In fact, I target feed some of ours in certain setups occasionally (they will take little bits of meaty foods right from your hand). Stock them at about 1 per 10 gals or so.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by saxman http:///forum/thread/380946/bumble-bee-snails#post_3316484
As mentioned, bumblebee snails are indeed predatory whelks and do NOT really act as part of your CUC. Back in the "old daze" before a lot was known about them, I had a few, and they were actually quite long-lived in the system they were in. They typically prey on much of the beneficial microfauna in your tank, but if starving will try and take down smaller snails.
Nassarius are excellent snails to have (I prefer them to hermits, hands down), but don't overstock them, as they feed on carrion/left over food items. In fact, I target feed some of ours in certain setups occasionally (they will take little bits of meaty foods right from your hand). Stock them at about 1 per 10 gals or so.
I was under the impression that bumble bees also ate detritus, especially out of tiny areas that other snails may not be able to get into? IMO, this still isn't as good as bristleworms, but does help. However, I do agree that they are not necessary to a tank or CUC.
If his daughter really wants one, I don't see an issue with one or two in a 56G tank....JMO
 
S

saxman

Guest
Nope...no harm there. I simply like to point out that they don't eat what most peeps tell you they eat so somebody doesn't buy a bunch of them as their CUC. I have a couple of bumbles that are a good 10 years old.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I have 2 in my 225G......had them over a year.....as far as I know they have not eaten any other snails....I think there is plenty of food for them in this tank though
 
mrdc

mrdc

Active Member
Just get some nassarius snails and paint some yellow and blacks stripes on their shell. Problem solved!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top