snails smails

[gkabbe]

Just wondering is thre a general rule of thumb for the number of
snails depending on tank size and rock?
Right now I have a 24 gl. with 8 varius snails 1emerald crab and a cleaner shrimp.

 

[monalisa]

bump...
I would also be interested in finding out more about this for my 37 gal.
Another question, do saltwater snails reproduce like the freshwater snails? I remember that becoming a problem in the past...
Thank you!!

 

[gkabbe]

im fairly new to this hobby but from I was told when I puchased my saltwater snails there completly different from fresh.they wont reprduce and clog up your filter like fresh.Maybe someone with more experiance can back me up.

 

[kcobain111]

I have 18 snails in a 55 and i think i need about 15 more....

 

[darknes]

I don't think there is any set number of snails you need per gallon. It's more of a preference. You have to account that you will lose some every once in a while.
Just don't get very many turbos for a 24gallon. They eat a lot.
I've only got one snail in my tank, though I do want a few more.
Also, saltwater snails do not reproduce like freshwater snails. I have a freshwater pond, and every summer I get millions of snail eggs. Saltwater snails aren't like that.

 

[bdhough]

Salt snails can and will reproduce but they are generally not a nuisance like fresh. I think i've managed to get a few baby ceriths to survive and i used to have strombus maculatus breeding like crazy. Then killer snail killed them anyways. Hes gone so maybe theres a few left.
When buying variety is the spice of life.
Get a few ceriths, nassarius, astreas, magaritas, turbos, etc. If you feel like you barely see your snails grazing on your rock and glass then you could probably buy a few more.

 

[kdfrosty]

I have 4 Mexican Turbos, 3 Nassarius, and 3 bumblebee snails. This is in my 50g with 55 lbs of rock.
For both a 24g and a 30g tank, I would get 1 Turbo, some Cerith, and possibly a Nassarius or two. Also dont forget hermits....I love to watch those things.

 

[kendall]

Interesting...So reproducing snails can become a problem in the tank?

 

[1journeyman]

Snail needs depends on a couple of things that I can think of:
Lighting
Livestock (do you have other algae grazers like a Lawnmower Blenny)
Amount of rock
If your snails are losing the Algae battle, keep slowly adding more (you don't want to add too many too fast or they will strip their food source and starve)
I'm a big fan of Nass. snails. They seem to eat algae ok and they also scavenge for meat.