latest victim of the pyramid snails
- Thread starter bullitr
- Start date
spanko
Active Member
the following from live aquaria
Pyramid Snails
Identification
Pyramid Snails, or Pyrams are very small snails that belong to the Pyramidellidae family. They are generally white in color, have a slender shell that tapers to a point, and do not grow larger than a few millimeters. The Pyramid Snails use their long proboscis, which is a tube-like mouth, to puncture the mantle of a Tridacna Clam in order to feed upon the fluids and zooxanthellae cells contained within. A few snails will typically not pose a threat to a healthy Tridacna Clam. The snails reproduce every 90-120 days, and if left to multiply, can cause serious harm or even death to their host in a very short period of time.
Signs & Symptoms
Evidence of an inflicted clam can be noticed by poor expansion and loss of color within the mantle. The Pyramid Snails feed mostly during the nighttime hours. During the daytime, they will remain either at the base of the clam, or within the scutes of the shell, where they are difficult to spot. It is best to inspect an ailing clam with a flashlight a few hours after the lights have turned off on the aquarium. The small snails will line up at the top of the shell just below the clam's mantle.
Treatment
If you discover these snails, it is best to remove the clam to a separate container of aquarium water. Once out of the aquarium, you can physically remove the adult snails, and brush the entire shell with a new toothbrush in order to remove any eggs.
Natural predators of Pyramid snails include several species of wrasse within the genus of Halichoeres and Pseudocheilinus. A few of the more popular species that are reportedly very efficient at controlling these snails are; Six and Eight Lined Wrasse (P. hexataenia and P. octotaenia), and the Green Wrasse (H. chloropterus).
Pyramid Snails
Identification
Pyramid Snails, or Pyrams are very small snails that belong to the Pyramidellidae family. They are generally white in color, have a slender shell that tapers to a point, and do not grow larger than a few millimeters. The Pyramid Snails use their long proboscis, which is a tube-like mouth, to puncture the mantle of a Tridacna Clam in order to feed upon the fluids and zooxanthellae cells contained within. A few snails will typically not pose a threat to a healthy Tridacna Clam. The snails reproduce every 90-120 days, and if left to multiply, can cause serious harm or even death to their host in a very short period of time.
Signs & Symptoms
Evidence of an inflicted clam can be noticed by poor expansion and loss of color within the mantle. The Pyramid Snails feed mostly during the nighttime hours. During the daytime, they will remain either at the base of the clam, or within the scutes of the shell, where they are difficult to spot. It is best to inspect an ailing clam with a flashlight a few hours after the lights have turned off on the aquarium. The small snails will line up at the top of the shell just below the clam's mantle.
Treatment
If you discover these snails, it is best to remove the clam to a separate container of aquarium water. Once out of the aquarium, you can physically remove the adult snails, and brush the entire shell with a new toothbrush in order to remove any eggs.
Natural predators of Pyramid snails include several species of wrasse within the genus of Halichoeres and Pseudocheilinus. A few of the more popular species that are reportedly very efficient at controlling these snails are; Six and Eight Lined Wrasse (P. hexataenia and P. octotaenia), and the Green Wrasse (H. chloropterus).
cranberry
Active Member
Originally Posted by bullitr
http:///forum/post/3133139
i lost my biggest clam that i have in the tank for 2 years how can i remove all of them in my tank i try to remove one the other day and it feel into the sand and this happen
The one that fell back in the tank did not result in the death of your clam. To kill a clam in a matter of days there was a small army already there.
This is what worked for me. These guys are nocturnal. So, a couple of hours after lights out, get your clam out for an inspection and cleaning. When removing him also grab the sand he was sitting in and some tank water to rinse him off in after the next step. Removing the surrounding substrate will help thin out their populations.
Brush all his nooks and crannies with a soft tooth brush. Inspect the hinge ligament area really well. Make sure you brush away from the clam so that you don't brush anything into him. Does that make sense? Look for little jelly masses that will be their egg sacs.
Then comes the shaky shaky shaky in the water you removed and put him back in the tank.
Doing it Monday, Wednesday and Friday made it easy to remember. And I believe I did it for 6 weeks. And then once a week for 6 weeks and then periodically.
I got this idea from somewhere, but I don't seem to have referenced it in my notes. I hate when I do that. I read it and tried something similar and it worked for me.
What are your other 2 clams?
http:///forum/post/3133139
i lost my biggest clam that i have in the tank for 2 years how can i remove all of them in my tank i try to remove one the other day and it feel into the sand and this happen
The one that fell back in the tank did not result in the death of your clam. To kill a clam in a matter of days there was a small army already there.
This is what worked for me. These guys are nocturnal. So, a couple of hours after lights out, get your clam out for an inspection and cleaning. When removing him also grab the sand he was sitting in and some tank water to rinse him off in after the next step. Removing the surrounding substrate will help thin out their populations.
Brush all his nooks and crannies with a soft tooth brush. Inspect the hinge ligament area really well. Make sure you brush away from the clam so that you don't brush anything into him. Does that make sense? Look for little jelly masses that will be their egg sacs.
Then comes the shaky shaky shaky in the water you removed and put him back in the tank.
Doing it Monday, Wednesday and Friday made it easy to remember. And I believe I did it for 6 weeks. And then once a week for 6 weeks and then periodically.
I got this idea from somewhere, but I don't seem to have referenced it in my notes. I hate when I do that. I read it and tried something similar and it worked for me.
What are your other 2 clams?
A
abeandlulu
Guest
I lost a clam to the pyramid snails about a year ago. About 3 months ago i found out the coris warsse eats them. So I bought one It took about a month or so, but he took care of the snails. I see one every now and then I have recently put a clam back in the tank and he it doing great. The coris wrasse is very fun to watch also sepecially when he dives down in the sand assuming he is going after a snail.