Fighting Conch

[fishhooked]

How hearty are they? How big do they get? What size of tank do you need for one?
I have heard that fighting conchs are great cleaners but was wanting a bit more information on them. Thanks.

 

[musipilot]

They can get big, but very, very slowly! They are also hardy - as long as your SG stays above 1.020 and stays fairly constant! They are great film algae eaters, and great to watch. You can safely keep a fighting conch in a small tank without a problem. We have one in our 10 gallon refugium and he's been in there for over a year. He came to us about 1" long (shell) and is now maybe a startling 1 1/2" long. Great little creatures.

 

[ed r]

I don't know how hardy they are. I have only had mine a few weeks. One is usually on top of the sand, the other usually buried. They are great for eating diatoms. I believe they get to be 5-6" long. Mine are 1-1/2 and 1-1/4 long. I have seen recommendations for at least 2 square feet of sand bed for each conch. If they grow too large for my tank, I will either have to get a larger tank or trade them in at a LFS.

 

[zari]

Speaking of fighting conches, I have to share this
I had 2 of them in my tank. One died a couple of weeks ago. Today, I found 2 baby conches in my sand! One is very small, but is doing his work just the same One was on the left front, and the other was on the right front. I don't know if there are more. Guess time will tell.
Zari

 

[karlas]

most only get about 3" in the aquarium the queen conchs are the big ones. most reccomend 1/25 gall because they cover a big area for food. they seem to be very hardy and alot of them are tank raised for the hobby. over stocking them can cause starvation because depletion of food. we have 2 in a 75 and they do a great job also ive seen them pick up pellet food and eat that. heres a good description page for them
<a href="http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesSH.asp?curGroupID=9&shapeID=1093&curPageNum=1&recnum=SS0057" target="_blank">fighting conch</a>

 

[sandy]

hmmmmm the lfs was out of fighting conch so I now have two queen conch. Thought I read one (fighting) was male other (queen) female... wrong... these guys are small, BUT just read how BIG they *can* get. Anyone know about the queens? How quicky they grow? Supplemental foods? I have one feasting on my red (slime?) algae. Whoo whoo.. you go conch!

 

[fshhub]

queen conchs can get inches, or even more at times,a nd no need ot worry about what to feed them, they will find their ownd food, as you have found already(mainly algaes)

 

[sandy]

fshhub: inches? Just found a good article. I'm not worried. If they get too big -- I'll find a bigger tank for 'em They are fun to watch. Hope I have enough algae for them over the long haul.. maybe I should use some tap water for a diatom bloom (JOKING)... but I never had one.
Good thing I read the article b/c I had put them on top of the LR and guess they are not great climbers... more sand creatures who will graze the rocks from below. They are now happily grazing the bottom of the tank on the sand. <img src="graemlins//silly.gif" border="0" alt="[silly]" />

 

[fshhub]

yep inches no kidding

 

[sandy]

lol, now your just messin wit me. 3 inches... 125 inches (tee hee) ? I read that if these tank queens were aquacultured that they don't get as big as in the ocean. (Like over a foot long). Is that bunk in your opinion?