queen conch

[rexxx]

: :? is a queen conch a smart addition for sand clean up? I have a 10 gallon nano would the conch have enough to eat? I am looking for something to pick up some of crap on the bottom of the tank. I had some hermits but one got huge and ate the rest (i fed them and provided shells?) should i get more hermits? a queen conch? i only have two small astrea snails now that stay on the glass . But i need something for the bed.
also i dont want any of these critters to wipe out my sand bed life so any help is appreciated.

 

[Desolas]

A queen conch is a bad addition for a 10 gallon tank. They get large, and require a lot of sand surface with good diatom growth to grow and survive. One would starve to death in a tank that size.

Small Hermit Crabs, Bumble Bee, or Cerith snails may be a good choice. Once you get a good population of bristle worms they may help also.

"The best cleaners for sand surfaces are probably conchs (= snails in the genus Strombus). These snails eat only diatoms and other small algae on the sand or nearby substrates. Some of them such as the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) grow large, up to 30 cm long, but others are smaller. You should have no more than 3 cm of snail shell length per 0.1 sq. m of open sand surface, or there won't be enough food for them."
(Shimek 2002)

 

[Anonymous]

You could always add it and trade it in when it gets too large or runs out of food. It isn't like they are hard to catch. Also, fighting conchs don't get as big but I am not sure they are as good as queen conchs at cleaning the sandbed.

 

[_range_]

I've got a 105 oceanic,my sand is pretty dirty - whenever i disturb the sand the 'undersand' is noticeably brighter. I've got about 20 nerite snails, 40 turbos, and 80 or so blue legged hermits. The hermits do a good job of cleaning up large debri, but the sand is still dirty. Would a queen conch do well in my tank?

 

[SPC]

Posted by JBB:

You could always add it and trade it in when it gets too large or runs out of food. It isn't like they are hard to catch.

-If you read the quote that Desolas posted you will see that this conch should not be considered for a 10 gallon. Lets say you did though, how would one go about determining if the snail is starving?
Steve

 

[Desolas]

Queen Conch only eat algae, so if the debris on your sand bed is made up mostly of algae, then yes it would do a good job of cleaning your sand surface. I added one to my tank, and it is doing a good job and hasn't overtaken the diatoms. I have a small section I keep going so it has food.

JBB, that is an idea, but he didn't specifically say what he has on the bottom of his tank. If it is mearly debris, and he has no diatom or algal growth, a Conch will begin starving the day he adds it to the tank.

The Fighting Conch does a good job of cleaning sand as well, but again, they feed on diatoms and algae. They are also mostly nocturnal, so you won't see it often.

_range_, something more on the lines of a cucumber would probably be more efficient at whitening your sand bed. They will also strip some of the life out of it, but in a tank that large it should go slowly enough that it doesn't harm your worm population too much. They get large though, but for a 120 it shouldn't be much of an issue. There are a lot of attractive sand dwellers that would do a good job of keeping the sand clean. You need to use caution with them though and weigh the hazards versus the benefit. Plus some amphipods are cuke predators, which keeps many people from being able to keep them. If you were to purchase one, I would do it strictly locally so you can more easily return it should it not work you for your tank.

 

[Anonymous]

-If you read the quote that Desolas posted you will see that this conch should not be considered for a 10 gallon. Lets say you did though, how would one go about determining if the snail is starving?
Steve

How do you determine if any invert or fish for that matter is starving? If there is an absence of suitable food. It isn't like you go down to the lfs and buy an adult 6" queen conch. They are sold when they are 1/2" to an inch long. I had three of them in a 29 for a year and a half before I transferred them to another tank. Despite what you may have read, they can be maintained in small tanks when they are small. People typically advise against having them in small tanks because they don't stay small.

 

[Modo]

Here is a similiar question that Dr. Ron answered about Conches. He states in this thread and in many others that you should have AT LEAST 2sq ft per inch of snail. He also recommends the Fighting Conch vs the Queen due to the fast growth rate of the Queen.

I couldn't find it in my search, but he stated in a thread that the conches eye stalks and even the eyes will start to "shrivel" and become thinner if they are starving. I'm still looking for that thread.

To answer the above question as well, starving fish will have a pinched in belly. Healthy fish have a plump "beer belly". Newly shipped Tangs show this alot with a pinched in stomach.

He also mentions some things to feed your conch if it cleans up too well.

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/sh ... h+starving

 

[Anonymous]

I placed a 1 1/2" fighting Conch in my 29 gallon a few days ago. I am really happy with the job he is doing inthe sandbed. This animal is a real workhorse. During the day he buries himself in the sand. He cleans the glass too. I don't hink I will be getting any more snails other than this conch. I would like to get another one........but I don't know if there would be enough food. :?: