Category:Snails
From ReefPedia
Snails: Good for the Glass.
(Usually)
Of all the mobile invertebrates used in reef aquaria as "clean-up crew," none match the popularity- and possibly usefulness- of the snails. Just about every reef tank you come across will have a population of snails of some sort. And while most will do a good job of cleaning the diatoms from your glass, and some will even clean the substrate, certainly some are more suited to aquarium life than others.
What makes a snail "Good?"
Climate in the Wild
Too many snails are brought in from temperate climate, only to live extremely shortened lives in the typical, tropical, reef aquarium.
Captive Breeding
Some snails will multiply like (tiny, slow) rabbits. This activity is beneficial for the entire tank, providing live zooplankton for your fish and corals to feed on. Any survivors may actually grow to adult size in your reef, then multiply, and the cycle begins anew. Snails such as ceriths and smaller Strombus snails are well-documented for successfully multiplying in captivity. Other snails will get as far as laying eggs or releasing gametes into the water, but due to the long free-swimming stages of juveniles it is very unlikely that any will survive to become adults.
The Flip Side
One drawback to certain snails - and it is a serious drawback - is their lack of ability to right themselves if turned over. Such snails will become stranded and die. The Turbo Snail is legendary for this behavior. In the wild, snails seldom encounter vertical planes such as the glass of your tank. And so, they have never needed the ability to right themselves. But they will in your tank. Thus, here is one good reason to avoid Turbo Snails. If you're looking for another reason, the things are honest-to-goodness bulldozers, displacing rock, corals, or anything else that gets in their way.
Common Reef Aquarium Snails:
- Fighting Conch (Strombus alatus)
