Clams and little snails...

[Barry N.]

After about 2 weeks in quarantine, I got them all. : )

[ruhspolostar]

so the clam is cool now?

[Barry N.]

He is snail free. Think we caught it in time as looks like the sack had just broke.

He is fine . I think if we hadn't had seen it then it might have been another story.

[Lostmind]

Well, just an update for everyone.

I have been brushing my clams off every second night since this was first posted. My maxima up in the rocks appears to be snail free, but the maxima's still have a snail or two appear everytime I brush.

I added a mystery wrasse to the tank recently, I hope he develops a taste for these lil buggers!

[Lostmind]

Oh, and a note for people who are cleaning their clams for the first time..

Maxima's can close rapidly, watch your fingers!

Crocea's always seem to have 1 more mouthful of tank water to spit at you - dont piss them off! I have nearly knocked my canopy off a few times, spilled water on the floor, etc. Tonite, my crocea spit water all over my face - I almost fell over!

well, actually, it was pretty funny

*I was holding the clam just under the surface looking for the silly predator snails, when the crocea decided to spit water at me... just imagine a guy on a step stool, hunched over the surface of his tank, looking at his clam, toothbrush in one hand, clam in the other... and SPLAT - reflexes kick in, half a liter of water on the floor... hehehe*

[Jeremy1973]

I need to post my pic of the snails I have. I was told they were pyrmidial(sp?), but the shells on my snails don't have the spiral indentions that your pic shows. I will try and get it posted tonight. Check back and let me know!

[Ryan Mackey]

We recently found a few of these guys hanging around on the clean up crew and were not amused. A few of the clams have been a little "crabby" lately but we have not removed them for inspection. They are in one of three 700 gallon reef tanks we care for in a dentists office(great lookin tanks). We'll dig a little deeper and see what we come up with. Ryan@advancedreef.com

[Jeremy1973]

Ryan, those look like Astrea snails. A harmless grazing snail. I don't think it would be the cause of crabby clams.

And yes, I didn't get my pic posted.. I will do it tonight. I took some of the snails to a LFS, and they said they were pyrmidial. So, now I am thinking of getting a Yellow Coris Wrasse to help get them. Barry, Casey, clam experts...your thoughts on this move?

[Ryan Mackey]

Yes, thank-you for correctly ID'ing my astrea snails. Perhaps if you click on the thumbnail to expand the picture of the astrea snail, you will notice the small, white, cone-shaped items clustered on its shell. Oh ho! Where did those little fellas come from?(kiddin', sarcastic) Ryan@advancedreef.com

[Jeremy1973]

Ah...did not notice those little buggers the first time. Sorry.

It is weird, I have what I am told is pyrmidial snails..but on rare occasion I will see 1 on the shell of my clam. Other then that, the only plce I ever see them is on the glass at night. Never seen tons of them on my clams, or my snails. Very odd.

[Jeremy1973]

Ok..here is the pic of my snail shell...these guys are tiny..maybe a 1/4" at most. But is this a pyrmidial snail?

The second pic... My one clam that has been acting funny for a long time is the purple rimmed deresa. Well, you can see in the photo how he never fully extends, and there has been what looks like scaring showing up on the siphon tube and his mouth...is this caused by these snails?

[Geoff]

there are several kinds of pyramid snails. they are specific feeders though. the ones that attack clams will not attack astreas and vise versa.

i am also thinking about getting a yellow coris wrasse. i have just had so-so luck using critters to fight other crittes. it seems the ones i get have not read the same books as i have.

i still have to clean my snails about every other day to get mine off. my crocea on the far side of the tank is still snail free, but the maxima and the squamie have them.

you want to talk about squirting try taking a 7" squammie out of the water. mine shot a stream 3' away. it has also drenched my sholder with another shot.

G~

[Jeremy1973]

Anyone else want to share their opinion on if that snail is a pyramid or cerith?

[Lostmind]

1/4" and white? I'd say it's not a cerith. My ceriths are dark brown and fatter - plus much longer.