Setting up clean up crew

[oro50]

I bought 3 snails and 3 hermit crabs.

1 bumblebee snail, 1 orange, something, and 1 ninjastar

2. hermit crabs look black, and very small.

I am using a drip to get them use to the water.

Just wondering when I put them into the tank which should be very soon, as I've been trying to acclimate them to my water for the past 2 hours almost,

can I just drop them in, or they need to be placed?

 

[lrasser]

bumblebee snails are evil! They will kill other snails. ninja's are good. Have a few of those. Most people stick to either snails or hermits cause the hermits will kill the snails for there shells. I have app. 3-400 snails in my tank and only a few hermits that made it in there by mistake. They have gotten huge and killed some of my larger snails. Look at reefcleaners.com they have pacckages with free shipping based on tank size. since your tank is new go for a package about 1-2 tank sizes smaller. regular drip acclimation should be fine.

 

[thirty6]

You'll be fine, some snails can't right themselves when flipped over
I can't say I know which can or can't, so either google what you bought or place on rock

I have both snails and hermits in tank, took some time but the hermits have taken over all the snails except the giant turbos

 

[oro50]

Bumblebee snails are evil?

I didn't just pick up random stuff.

Everything that I bought is what the woman at manhattan aquariums recommended for me to have to start out with?

Just to see how the water is, before I put a fish in it.

I'm not saying your wrong, but I find it hard to believe she (an employee) who works at this great store that is completely focused in this hobby, would tell me that this one bumblebee with the others is fine, to what get 1 more buck. They were all really cheap.

2nd question: Can I put the snails on live rock, or should they be placed on the sand. The ninja guy and the orange shell one, hasn't really moved in a while and I'm worried?

3rd question: I put (as this woman employee told me) a pinch of flake food into the aquarium to feed them?

How many times a day or times a week do they need to eat?

 

[oro50]

4th question:

I have two snails (one ninja and the orange shelled one right now on live rock, because of the algae growing on it.

Should they be on live rock, or should I place them on the sand?

Again both of these two types of snails seem like they haven't been moving much?

I hoped they didn't die in the last few hours, since I brought them home and started to acclimate them to the tank?

5th question: Is it common for snails not to move like at all for long periods of time and be fine?

I'm asking this because, the woman employee told me to watch them for the next week, just to see how they are with my new tank,

which she didn't say was completely ready, because I found a trace of green in my ammonia test last night.

She told me that if they died I would notice it, but she didn't specifically state what I should look for?

Anyway I put some fish flakes in the take. Just a little bit. I'm hoping this is enough for all six?

 

[thirty6]

I don't know if matters where you place them initially. Snails sometimes take a bit to get going in the tank. I've only ordered cuc and had shipped so that takes longer to acclimate and adjust. I'm sure they'll be fine

 

[lrasser]

Beleive what you want. If you think the person in the store knows more (the one trying to get money out of you) then go with it. Read below. Also if someone ever told me i needed to feed my snails flakes i would never go back there again. The entire reason you get snails is to clean up any uneaten food and buildup. So if you put food in there for them wouldn't that defeat the entire purpose? To be sucessfull in this hobby take it slow and NEVER add anything to your tank with researching it first. You ask for help and that what were all here to do. Whether or not you take our advice is up to you. Keep in mind the odds are the person in the store has been working there for 6 months and people on here have been doing this for years (over 10yrs myself).



From live aquaria: (easy to google)

Though peaceful, keep in mind that the Bumble Bee Snail is a carnivore. If there is insufficient food, the Bumble Bee Snail may feed on other snails in your aquarium or indiscriminately consume polychaetes whether beneficial or the more troublesome bristleworm. In well-established systems, most Bumble Bee Snails do not require supplemental feeding. However, if sufficient food sources are unavailable, supplement their diet with offerings of meaty foods, including finely chopped brine or mysis shrimp and frozen meaty foods.

 

[Cu455]

Just put the snails in the tank. They are mobile and move where they want. I wouldn't bother feeding them. if you do a pinch every few days will be good. The snails should be fine with a little ammonia. Probably not good for them but they will survive. If one dies the hermits or other snails will eat it and you will see an empty shell.

 

[Jlavine]

If I bought 3 snails and 3 crabs for a tank I would just throw them in. Please do not get defensive when people on forums give you advice. You have to understand that everyone will have their own option and way to do things.

Being that you've been trying to cycle your tank for nearly 6 weeks and you do not have a fish, do not put food in your tank. And stop staring at your snails, they can move slowly or even decide to just hand out in one spot all day.