OMG!! Help with new conch!!!

fishyfun2

fishyfun2

Member
So I got my first conch today, it's a fighting conch. I ordered it, and it's acclimating now. THIS THING IS HUGE!!!! The seller said it was going to be 1-1 1/2 inches, it's at least 3 inches. Do you think it will have enough to eat in my 29 gal? I can't believe I had to special order something that my LFS doesn't carry and now I may not be able to keep it in my small tank and it may end up going to the LFS anyways!
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by FishyFun2
http:///forum/post/3054926
So I got my first conch today, it's a fighting conch. I ordered it, and it's acclimating now. THIS THING IS HUGE!!!! The seller said it was going to be 1-1 1/2 inches, it's at least 3 inches. Do you think it will have enough to eat in my 29 gal? I can't believe I had to special order something that my LFS doesn't carry and now I may not be able to keep it in my small tank and it may end up going to the LFS anyways!

HMMM....On this site, it says minimum tank of 100G'S....I wanted one for my 29g too....I will probably (maybe) get one for my 225
 
fishyfun2

fishyfun2

Member
I know, and I did research from other sites and they said you can keep them in smaller systems, but you have to supplement their feeding. There was such a difference in information that it made my wonder if the ones they sell from here are different? (I guess not....
) I'm just thinking I don't know how it'll navigate my rocks! My rocks are close to the glass in some places. He may be stranded on one side of the tank. Maybe I'll take him to the LFS and see if they can trade me for something else. I bought him to take care of my sand, but since I added chaeto last week, my sand looks 90% better. How big is your litte bear conch?
 
fishyfun2

fishyfun2

Member
So I just called my LFS, the guy there said he had like 5 of them in 55 gal, yes, fighting conchs, and they did just fine???? I guess I'll give it a try and make sure it can move around my rocks OK, also try to target feed it.
 
soulsigma

soulsigma

Member
I have 3 tiger sand conch in my 75g and they are great, they really do stay on the bottom and keep the sand bed pristine. The requirements for them are 25g min and 1 TSC per 25g.
 
fishyfun2

fishyfun2

Member
So Meowzer, I came up with a solution to my problem. I just need to buy a 125 and upgrade, solely for the welfare of my new conch.

What do you think?!! Good idea, huh?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by FishyFun2
http:///forum/post/3055061
So Meowzer, I came up with a solution to my problem. I just need to buy a 125 and upgrade, solely for the welfare of my new conch.

What do you think?!! Good idea, huh?
EXCELLENT IDEA
 
natclanwy

natclanwy

Active Member
There are at least three different species of conches that are sold as fighting conches. A 29g IMO is way too small for a fighting conch and there are much better solutions for taking care of the sandbed in a 29g with nassarius snails topping the list. If you decide to keep it make sure your rock is secure as the conch can easily topple rockwork while burying itself in the sand.
 
tax lady

tax lady

Member
Never could get my sandbed looking good until I bought a diamond goby. Boy is he making my sand look good. I am so glad I have him. My sand is white again. The snails didn't do it for me. Maybe cause the hermit crabs ate them?? I heard that they will eat snails.
 
fishyfun2

fishyfun2

Member
Yes, that is where I went wrong, having hermits with small snails. I had 10 nass snails and 10 cerith along with the multiple others I have in there, but my sand never got cleaned. A lot of them got killed by the hermits, who are enjoying their new shells BTW. I know diamond gobies do an excellent job. The good part about this fighting conch thing is that my sand cleared about 2 days before he came, due to my new fuge. So now I just have a couple small areas of cyano that I just need to figure out, but no more diatoms.
Thank you all for your help. I think the conch is really cool and I'd hate to see him die in my tank. He is obviously too big, so today I will take him to the LFS and see if I can trade him on a green chromis.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
SPANKO...Is yours one of the "Fighting Conch's" that get 3" ??
OH....and my Little Bears do climb glass and rocks
 
fishyfun2

fishyfun2

Member
This morning I saw the big guy lurch himself over a flat rock that is laying about 2" above the sandbed. It looked pretty awkard for him though. They really are interesting creatures. Meowzer, how big does your little bear grow? There's not much info on SWF.com about it. I wonder if the size they state is the arrival size or the full-grown size? No species name either.
Sounds like yours would be a better size for my tank. (That's what size this guy was supposed to be.....
)
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by FishyFun2
http:///forum/post/3055418
This morning I saw the big guy lurch himself over a flat rock that is laying about 2" above the sandbed. It looked pretty awkard for him though. They really are interesting creatures. Meowzer, how big does your little bear grow? There's not much info on SWF.com about it. I wonder if the size they state is the arrival size or the full-grown size? No species name either.
Sounds like yours would be a better size for my tank. (That's what size this guy was supposed to be.....
)
IDK how big they get...mine are 1-1 1/2"....they are wierd though how they stick their "tongue" out and pull themselves around...I do have one in my 29G and it seems fine....I also have 2 in my 54g, and I think 5 in my 225...
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3055408
SPANKO...Is yours one of the "Fighting Conch's" that get 3" ??
OH....and my Little Bears do climb glass and rocks
Strombus alatus Florida Fighting Conch, and can get to 5.5". Right now it is about 1" long so I guess it is in there until it becomes a problem, if it ever does.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3055428
Strombus alatus Florida Fighting Conch, and can get to 5.5". Right now it is about 1" long so I guess it is in there until it becomes a problem, if it ever does.
LOL...That is the fighting conch swf sells....Of which they just ran out
 
fishyfun2

fishyfun2

Member
I got a free one for ya Meowzer, he's an active guy and acclimated very well.
That would be a long couple of days for him. Florida to Oregon to Oklahoma....
 
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