Any bad things about fighting conches?

[AWD]

Have any of you had any bad experiences with these or any warnings or advice on these. My motive is to make WHITE sand.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[reefsRcool]

had mine for a couple weeks now and he does real good. trippled in size already so i am a little concerned as to how long i can keep him. much bigger then two inches and he'll have to go back.

 

[Anonymous]

They are the best at keeping the sand clean. However, they are bulldozers that will knock over anything in their way. I feel the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

 

[Reefguide]

Will they climb onto LR ?

 

[Anonymous]

Mine does. She keeps the rocks clean as well.

 

[Reefguide]

What I was actually worried about wall it knocking over corals... bummer...

 

[One Stoned Coral]

I have had mine for awile, they are pretty gentle. mine have not caused any problems. although they are small about 1" each.

 

[MadamePoisson]

I have three that I got from a friend who was taking his tank down. Each is about 1-1 1/2 inches. Mine haven't climbed on rocks. They are great substrate cleaners and fun to watch!

 

[dgin]

I've had mine for about 3 months now and they have doubled in size - about 2.25" in length. Mine have stayed only on the sand. They are great sand stirrers (DSB safe) and help clean the sandbed without eating the pods and such.

They grow fairly quick and can get up to 5.5" in length. You should have around 2 square feet of open sand for each.

The only possible negative (although mine have never exhibited it) is that some folks have had theirs bury themselves and disappear for weeks at a time. Mine have buried themselves half way on occassion (to sleep, I think) but are out and about most of the time.

 

[stevebydac]

Do they munch coralline? I'm assuming not given everyone's enthusiasm?? Also, have any of you kept one with a trigger or puffer? I read that large hermits can sometimes cohabitate with them --wondering if conches could too. I need a cleaner for my FOWLR and am pondering my (limited) options.

 

[dgin]

They do not eat coralline algae. They may be ok in an aggressive species tank if they are large enough but it would be risky. My flame angel and yellow tang peck at the shells of mine on occassion but they don't do any harm. Sometimes the conchs will sense a fish getting too close and will retreat into their shell momentarily until the fish passes by.

 

[SPC]

Posted by dgin:

They do not eat coralline algae.

-Unless you can provide a link that confirms this I will have to disagree, they do not eat coraline algae unless it is by accident.
Steve

 

[jhaag]

Okay, now I'm confused... What are you disagreeing with?

 

[Reefguide]

I think Steve may have mis-read the post.

 

[SPC]

Sorry jhaag, I did mis-read your post.
After that 'conch ate my clam" thread the other day, I guess I am a little trigger happy :lol: .
Steve

 

[jhaag]

Actually, it wasn't my post. I just read through the thread and got lost. I can defiantely emphasize with getting trigger happiness though...

 

[royy]

Get a couple. I have 3 in my 90 gallon reef and they are great grazers. They are constantly roaming the tank cleaning the sand. They are always out and about and almost always in the sand. I have seen them on the lowest rocks in my tank once or twice.

 

[Tusken]

Fighting Conchs stay on the sand. Queen Conchs will climb on the rocks.
You need about 1 square foot of sand per fighting conch so they dont go hungry.
IMO There is no downside to fighting conchs. Queens however will get pretty big.