Sat night pics...

wrassecal

wrassecal

Active Member

Originally posted by Infalable
How well does your conch sift and clean through the sand?
I have 2 queen conchs (can't get the fighting conchs that stay smaller around here). They both do a good job on the top of the sand bed and eat algae that's down around the sand line. They don't sift sand though, which is a good thing.
Here it is eating algae on the glass at the sand line...
 
infalable

infalable

Member
hmmmmmm?...I thought these were sand sifters. With my crabs, and such, my algea is not to bad. I am purchasing some Ceriths and Nassarius snails for the sand. I was going to get a Queen as well, but now not so sure.
 
the claw

the claw

Active Member
They kind of just plow through the very top layers, but they dont seem to sift too much. Good additions to the tank anyhow.
 
cb

cb

Member
I just recently got a fighting conch to clean the sand bed. What is the difference between the fighting and the queen? Do they both do the same job?
 
the claw

the claw

Active Member
I've got two fighting, and one queen, and quite frankly couldn't tell you which is which at this point. I think the queen conch eventually gets big, but the fighting stay fairly small.
 
wrassecal

wrassecal

Active Member
Here is the scientific way to tell the difference between a queen and a fighting conch. The bumps across the middle are nubby on a fighting and sharp on a queen. And of course, the queens can eventually get huge. Occasionally my conchs will dig in maybe 1/8th of an inch to sleep.I think they are very good for helping keep the top of the sand clean of algae.
My queens only work the top of the sand and they are a valuable addition to the sand bed clean-up crew which includes nassarius snails, bristle worms, pods and probably some things I don't even know are there. If it's a dsb you don't really want "sifters" just "shifters" like nassarius who are usually buried in the top layer unless it's feeding time.
Infalable - ceriths will sometimes be on the sand bed but spend more time on the rockwork.
 
the claw

the claw

Active Member
They don't fight as their name suggests, so I guess the sky is the limit. (Within reason of course) Several would be fine IMO.
 
ekclark

ekclark

Member
I had a fighting, but my bluelegs ate him. I was wondering if they would bother one of these guys when they are larger? Do your hermits bother your conch(es)? If I kept one in my fuge until he was bigger would it be okay? What do you think?
 
flamingkingofhe

flamingkingofhe

Active Member
.
How many conch's could I have in a 40g long? I only have one right now .

as many as you want but i believe the appropriate amount is one every two sq. ft
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Hey Wrassecal, Nice looking corals there ;) They've recovered marvelously. Thank you for sharing.
Originally posted by CB
How many conch's could I have in a 40g long? I only have one right now .
IMO a 40 long can support about one Fighting Conch. You could get more and give them away as they grow. In general Fighting need about a squate foot of sandbed for each inch of shell length, Queens need about double that amount.
 
the claw

the claw

Active Member
My hermits haven't done any damage to mine at all. Every once in awhile one will try to pick stuff of from their shell, and the conch will try to buck them off like a horse out of the shoot. Funniest darn thing...
 
wrassecal

wrassecal

Active Member
Hi Jon, haven't seen you around lately and thanks.
I only keep a sally lightfoot and an emerald crab, no hermits.
Bang Guy definately knows his conchs. He's got the Queen of all queens. FWIW I've got 2 queens in a 135. One is about 2 1/2 inches and one is about 1 1/2 inches right now.
Guy does the purple look OK? It's growing some, thickening up some and is slightly fuzzy looking.
 
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