Too many snails?

[stlblufan]

I have a ~6mo old 20g with LR, two clowns, a zoa colony and a torch. It's sort of a long story, but the quick version is that when I ordered my CUC, I was sent the wrong shipment. In my excitement to put the first (intentionally placed) inhabitant in the tank, I dumped in a bagful of snails only to realize that I had just dropped in like 50 snails, rather than the dozen or so I had ordered.

Snails include Virgin Nerite, Dwarf Cerith, Florida Cerith, and Nassarius Vibex.

I took out a bunch of them, and once I got my correct order (different types) and put them in, I figured all would be well. As it turns out, a bunch of the original batch were sand shifters and as a result I didn't remove as many of them as I thought. Soooo....now I have probably 35 snails in my 20g tank. Most are small, and they don't really bother me, but do they affect the bioload on the tank (my readings are and have been excellent)? Is this too many snails? Should I care?

 

[batt600]

50 is fine I have 400 in a 75g

 

[basiab]

They just don't add much to the bio load. The only problem is will they have enough 'food' to servive. I would not worry about it because as you say they are really small for the most part.

 

[Mattl22]

400 why so many? I have about 50 in my 75 I thought that was a lot I also have like 30 hermits

 

[batt600]

400 why so many? I have about 50 in my 75 I thought that was a lot I also have like 30 hermits

To keep things clean that was a clean up crew for a 75g anyway.

 

[jaa1456]

I have about about 20 in my 65 and maybe 10-15 hermits. They keep the tank spotless

 

[DA fisherman]

That's a good question .....cause since I added 2 turbo snails, 15 small snails ...I always see alot of poop around them now my sand bed looks more like it has mice crap all over it..

Do they add alot of bio-load ????

Aren't they suppose to help clean the tank??

Sent from MR. Fix your fins or get your fins fix

 

[Wes]

It's not a problem although the population may decline if there is not enough food for all of your CUC.


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[jaa1456]

That's a good question .....cause since I added 2 turbo snails, 15 small snails ...I always see alot of poop around them now my sand bed looks more like it has mice crap all over it..

Do they add alot of bio-load ????

Aren't they suppose to help clean the tank??

Sent from MR. Fix your fins or get your fins fix

Yes they do add to your bio-load. Anything in your tank that is alive will add to it. Although it might not be as much as a fish would amount to. But if you have 200 snails living in any tank and 30 hermits, they will certainly add to a bio-load of a 75. Probrably the equivelent of 2 small fish.

 

[tonep]

Do you have any extra left ove

 

[stlblufan]

Do you have any extra left ove

Haha sorry I donated them to my LFS

 

[InfernoST]

Love the snails but hate the hermits, I'll never put them in my tank again.

 

[fallenlordz]

I have 3 astrea snails and 6 blue hermits in my 55g LOL. Tank is spotless. :shhh:

 

[Mikei70]

50 is fine I have 400 in a 75g

If I ever need to dispose of a body I know where to go.

 

[batt600]

if i ever need to dispose of a body i know where to go.

lmao...

 

[Imbarrie]

You really mean when, right?


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[jamesonwhiskey]

I have about 10 Nassarius and 10 hermits, everytime I try adding 2 or 3 large turbos they die within a couple of days. Levels are good... could it be lack of food? I keep my glass pretty clear of algae. Maybe I'm acclimating them wrong or something?

 

[InfernoST]

I have about 10 Nassarius and 10 hermits, everytime I try adding 2 or 3 large turbos they die within a couple of days. Levels are good... could it be lack of food? I keep my glass pretty clear of algae. Maybe I'm acclimating them wrong or something?

Either not enough algae/detritus to eat or the hermits are killing them for the shells, that's what my hermits did to some of my snails.

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Either not enough algae/detritus to eat or the hermits are killing them for the shells, that's what my hermits did to some of my snails.

It's not the hermits... the turbos will climb up the glass and little then eventually die and fall off..

I have plenty of green stuff on my sand and algae on the back walls. What else would they need to eat?

 

[ming]

it's not a problem although the population may decline if there is not enough food for all of your cuc.


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