Conch Care Question

[RobertTheNurse]

Hey everyone.

I have a 65G mixed tank. Bought a Conch less than 2 weeks ago and it has since DEVOURED all the nuisance algae I was hoping to rid on my sand bed.

Now im sure is microscopic stuff it can get too, but I want to make sure I'm practicing good care for the little one.

I've since started to feed my tank a pinch of pellets. I only have 5 fish: 2 clowns, a YWG, Royal Gamma, and Banggai Cardinal...you think pinch of pellets every 2 or 3 days will suffice? The only fish that MAY eat a few pellets are my clowns.

What you think? I've read Nori may work, but you think my plan is safe for longevity?

We call him Larry, and he's been going to town!!

Current pic (don't mind the dirty glass, currently cleaning).

 

[garbled]

What kind? I used to keep a larger one in my 120, and it did eventually starve, but I think it really depends on the size of the conch and the species..

 

[Mikedawg]

Not sure fighting conchs will eat pellets. Mine get nori and graze in the intersection of sand and glass. My two also will climb up several inches for film algae, etc.

Don't fully clean everything of course - that is their job

 

[RobertTheNurse]

Not sure fighting conchs will eat pellets. Mine get nori and graze in the intersection of sand and glass. My two also will climb up several inches for film algae, etc.

Don't fully clean everything of course - that is their job

Stopped touching sand bed. Not sure what specific type of conch he is. I was more thinking that the pellets would degrade into something to its liking. Does yours enjoy nori? How long you leave the nori in the water?

 

[Mikedawg]

Stopped touching sand bed. Not sure what specific type of conch he is. I was more thinking that the pellets would degrade into something to its liking. Does yours enjoy nori? How long you leave the nori in the water?

Looks like a common Florida fighting conch, maybe sold as a tiger because of shell pattern. Probably difficult for it to find pellets and their mouth structure doesn't seem conducive to this type of feeding, although as you know they do feed on detritus. Uneaten food is a concern of course. I leave nori in overnight since conchs, snails, etc. will feed over time and it is a good supplement to what they find.

 

[garbled]

My 120 had larger sand (1mm) and the conch would pick up each grain one at a time in it's mouth, and then set it down after cleaning it off. Mine never buried itself in the sand, looked more like yours, was sold as a queen. However, the new ones I got recently basically never leave the sand, mind you, the sand in that tank is fine grit.

 

[Tiki Reef Joshua]

Yea. I have reef flakes. My dude cleans a few grains at a time and hits the rocks where he can reach. He partially buries. He will find food. I don’t run a mega clean tank so there’s just enough to eat. Also blowing off your rocks with a bulb syringe will skater detritus for him to find. Cool animals.