Snail discussion - Aquarium Advice

fijiwigi · 02-18-2008, 06:48 PM

I am trying to understand the science of snails. I know sounds crazy but fascinating. Wondering if there is research material on snails?

My snails seem to spend time at the surface halfway inside the water and halfway out. Do they like to be semi-out of the water for a reason? When I do my PWC and it lowers the water leaving the snail outside of the water for as long as it takes to refill the tank. They do ok with it.

How does a snail digest its food?

How does a snail poop?

How does a snail produce a new shell exactly? if they left there shell would they die?

Are they fine-filter feeders or do they have a mouth to swallow chunks? Is it kinda like a fly that vomits and then redigests?

From Kurt-Nelsons post about snails reproducing in his tank I now understand how they are produced. After the egg is fertilized they just hatch from the substrate I assume?

I know wierd stupid questions I guess I am bored today with nothing better to do than think about snail behavior.

**melosu58** · 02-18-2008, 08:17 PM

The Grazing Snails, Part I - Turbo, Trochus, Astraea, and Kin by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com

The Grazing Snails, Part II - Abalones, Limpets and Nerites by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com

The Grazing Snails, Part III: Conchs, Ceriths, Cowries, and Columbellids by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com

http://web.archive.org/web/200208142...wb/default.asp

fijiwigi · 02-18-2008, 08:28 PM

thanks melosu58 you always seem to have all the research material.

An Acclimation time for snails is a recommended 5-10 hours according to the article. They are very sensitive to changes in SG very interesting stuff.

**melosu58** · 02-19-2008, 11:43 AM

He says 5-10 but I`ve never done mine that long. I do mine about 2-3 with no problem. 5-10 would be optimal but 2-3 is OK.

Biggen · 02-19-2008, 12:10 PM

The acclimation time for snails has ALWAYS bee debated (well, what else isn't in our hobby??). I actually let the snails acclimate themselves. I simply float the bag they are located in to get them used to the water temp. Then I take them out and let them attach to the glass inside the tank halfway in and out of the water. They will sit there for a long period before actually moving on. Never lost one doing it this way... Actually got this method from Dr. Shimenk (that isn't even closed to how it is spelled) over on ReefCentral years ago. Never failed me yet.

fijiwigi · 02-19-2008, 10:53 PM

this still leads me to my original question. I couldn't find the answer within the research. Why do the snails hang out halfway in the water and halfway out. Is this normal behavior for them to do consistently or is there a reason they are doing it.

Biggen · 02-20-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fijiwigi

this still leads me to my original question. I couldn't find the answer within the research. Why do the snails hang out halfway in the water and halfway out. Is this normal behavior for them to do consistently or is there a reason they are doing it.

Beats me. I'm not really sure that there is any "rhym or reason" to what they do. The just send to move around the tank in a random fashion from what I can tell...

**melosu58** · 02-20-2008, 09:18 PM

I`ve seen snails come out of the water all the way before. I just think there is some food there and they are coming out to get it. I really dont think there is any reason. JMO

Kurt_Nelson · 02-20-2008, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fijiwigi

this still leads me to my original question. I couldn't find the answer within the research. Why do the snails hang out halfway in the water and halfway out. Is this normal behavior for them to do consistently or is there a reason they are doing it.

What type of snails are doing this?

I've read that some snails are more accustomed to tide pool areas and will spend more time at the water line for that reason. Think it was nerites? (Going by memory on that bit.) I know my turbos and trochus rarely come up to water line, and then it's just to get the algae I'm lazy at scraping right near the rim. The nassarius never do.

fijiwigi · 02-20-2008, 10:37 PM

I only have like 4 snails as of now my clean-up crew is still not complete. The one that does it is an astrea snail I believe.

02-18-2008, 06:48 PM	#1
fijiwigi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Yakima, Washington Posts: 1,273 Images: 7	Snail discussion I am trying to understand the science of snails. I know sounds crazy but fascinating. Wondering if there is research material on snails? My snails seem to spend time at the surface halfway inside the water and halfway out. Do they like to be semi-out of the water for a reason? When I do my PWC and it lowers the water leaving the snail outside of the water for as long as it takes to refill the tank. They do ok with it. How does a snail digest its food? How does a snail poop? How does a snail produce a new shell exactly? if they left there shell would they die? Are they fine-filter feeders or do they have a mouth to swallow chunks? Is it kinda like a fly that vomits and then redigests? From Kurt-Nelsons post about snails reproducing in his tank I now understand how they are produced. After the egg is fertilized they just hatch from the substrate I assume? I know wierd stupid questions I guess I am bored today with nothing better to do than think about snail behavior. __________________ The "experts" are many, but the truths are few. "When we have stopped learning, we have stopped listening"

02-18-2008, 08:17 PM	#2
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,710 Images: 80	The Grazing Snails, Part I - Turbo, Trochus, Astraea, and Kin by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com The Grazing Snails, Part II - Abalones, Limpets and Nerites by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com The Grazing Snails, Part III: Conchs, Ceriths, Cowries, and Columbellids by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com http://web.archive.org/web/200208142...wb/default.asp __________________ View My Tanks http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...8/melosu58.jpg Click here to Visit FantasyReef

02-18-2008, 08:28 PM	#3
fijiwigi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Yakima, Washington Posts: 1,273 Images: 7	thanks melosu58 you always seem to have all the research material. An Acclimation time for snails is a recommended 5-10 hours according to the article. They are very sensitive to changes in SG very interesting stuff. __________________ The "experts" are many, but the truths are few. "When we have stopped learning, we have stopped listening"

02-19-2008, 11:43 AM	#4
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,710 Images: 80	He says 5-10 but I`ve never done mine that long. I do mine about 2-3 with no problem. 5-10 would be optimal but 2-3 is OK. __________________ View My Tanks http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...8/melosu58.jpg Click here to Visit FantasyReef

02-19-2008, 12:10 PM	#5
Biggen Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2003 Location: Panama City FL Posts: 1,806 Images: 16	The acclimation time for snails has ALWAYS bee debated (well, what else isn't in our hobby??). I actually let the snails acclimate themselves. I simply float the bag they are located in to get them used to the water temp. Then I take them out and let them attach to the glass inside the tank halfway in and out of the water. They will sit there for a long period before actually moving on. Never lost one doing it this way... Actually got this method from Dr. Shimenk (that isn't even closed to how it is spelled) over on ReefCentral years ago. Never failed me yet. __________________ Rodman

02-19-2008, 10:53 PM	#6
fijiwigi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Yakima, Washington Posts: 1,273 Images: 7	this still leads me to my original question. I couldn't find the answer within the research. Why do the snails hang out halfway in the water and halfway out. Is this normal behavior for them to do consistently or is there a reason they are doing it. __________________ The "experts" are many, but the truths are few. "When we have stopped learning, we have stopped listening"

02-20-2008, 09:18 PM	#8
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,710 Images: 80	I`ve seen snails come out of the water all the way before. I just think there is some food there and they are coming out to get it. I really dont think there is any reason. JMO __________________ View My Tanks http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...8/melosu58.jpg Click here to Visit FantasyReef

02-20-2008, 10:37 PM	#10
fijiwigi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Yakima, Washington Posts: 1,273 Images: 7	I only have like 4 snails as of now my clean-up crew is still not complete. The one that does it is an astrea snail I believe. __________________ The "experts" are many, but the truths are few. "When we have stopped learning, we have stopped listening"

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