something is eating my snails!!
- Thread starter dapak83
- Start date
reefreak29
Active Member
most likely the hermits they usually ry to steel there shells
scsinet
Active Member
How many turbos do you have and how old is the system? Snails have a very high mortality rate if there is not a plentiful food source, and they will die in droves. If you find the shells empty, that doesn't mean they aren't dying from other causes... it just means your janitor crew is doing it's job.
If the shells are not damaged, then it's not a mantis. If something is killing them, it's also spending time eating them, and a snail is a big hunk of meat, which takes a while to eat. Check the tank at night repeatedly with a small flashlight to see if you can identify a culprit. It could be that you have a rock crab or some other hitchhiking predator, but they may just be dying on their own.
Don't be surprised if you see a hermit crab or cleaner shrimp going at it though... but that doesn't mean they are the killers. They may have just died of natural causes. However, if something is killing them, it's a cinch whatever it is is going to stick around to eat it.
If the shells are not damaged, then it's not a mantis. If something is killing them, it's also spending time eating them, and a snail is a big hunk of meat, which takes a while to eat. Check the tank at night repeatedly with a small flashlight to see if you can identify a culprit. It could be that you have a rock crab or some other hitchhiking predator, but they may just be dying on their own.
Don't be surprised if you see a hermit crab or cleaner shrimp going at it though... but that doesn't mean they are the killers. They may have just died of natural causes. However, if something is killing them, it's a cinch whatever it is is going to stick around to eat it.
dapak83
Member
well originaly i had 10 that were eating by my chocolate chip star... but hes not in there any more i got 10 from which 5 are dead now... so i gues i m left with 5.. i dont c why the hermits would attack em there are plenty of shells there for them to use... and 3 nas snails in a 55... i dont think thats too many i was thinking of getin some more!
scsinet
Active Member
On every reef I've set up, I stock it with snails and the snails die off until the food supply matches the snail population.
Hermits attacking for shells does happen, but generally only with the larger hermits and snails such as Nassirus which do not have that hard shell flap to cover their opening. Turbos with that hard flap are tough nuts to crack for a tiny hermit crab.
Hermits attacking for shells does happen, but generally only with the larger hermits and snails such as Nassirus which do not have that hard shell flap to cover their opening. Turbos with that hard flap are tough nuts to crack for a tiny hermit crab.
reefreak29
Active Member
snails eat diatoms, what are your water perameters
dapak83
Member
system is just about 2 yrs old... i cant check the amonia but my nitrates keep getin higher cuz of the snails dying....i asked about the diatoms before in this post they told me cuz i dont have enough water flow.. i only got about 10x.... i will be geting more phs with a wavemaker.. and my skimmer shud be coming in this week!
almostclueless
Member
well, Get an amonia test kit. That very well could be causing the death of your snails.
