Hawaiian Strombus snail over population

[SonOfaGoat]

Hey guys and gals!

I've got a 24 G Red Sea Peninsula tank. 5G water change each week (tap for now) Been up since April. The tank has 2 clowns, a lawnmower blenny, 1 hermit, 1 cleaner shrimp, 2 turbo snails, 1 margarita snail, 3 bumble bee snails still I think, and about 300 Hawaiian Strombus snails.

My tank has been going through algae stages, just got through GHA and now it's cyano.

I noticed a couple months ago after I got some coral frags an unknown snail showed up, this snail has reproduced aggressively. Yesterday as I cleaned the glass I picked off the ones I could and tossed them out, about 30-40. I did not realize people actually want these snails. They cover the glass each afternoon and evening. The main reason I tossed them is I thought an over population of these snails could start sapping the calcium up with their shell growth. I also don't like the look of 100 snails on the glass each evening.

Has anyone else dealt with these guys? I'm sure their useful but they do seem very pest like with how fast they reproduce.

 

[Fenral]

They are beneficial, and their population will ebb and flow with the amount of food available... that being said....cough...Sell em if you got to many ;)

 

[Tamberav]

10ish of these snails sell for $100ish. I would say you tossed $300-$400ish in the trash :)

Their numbers will match the available algae, since you are in the uglies, you will have lots and looks like plenty for them to eat on the glass too.

If they are truly the Hawaiian ones, sell them and reap the rewards in coral money

A little wrasse, pink streak? would probably eat their eggs and the small snails. A sixline could work but they can be mean so depends on stocking and what you plan to add.

It isn't likely that their numbers will stay so numerous down the road.

 

[Fenral]

Oh and welcome to R2R.

 

[areefer01]

They are beneficial, and their population will ebb and flow with the amount of food available... that being said....cough...Sell em if you got to many ;)

I purchased a bunch of stuff 10 or so years ago from indo pacific sea farms and they throw in a couple of the strombus grazers (Strombus maculatus). They readily bred in home aquaria and are a good snail to have in my opinion. While some are on the glass they are also along some of the reef structure or rubble substrate. They are able to get into smaller areas, nooks, and crannies compared to the more common snails hobbyist use.

As you noted their population will ebb and flow but nothing like a plague or zombie apocalypse (in my experience anyway).

 

[SonOfaGoat]

Thanks for the responses! I regret tossing out what I did, especially in retrospect it may have been more into the 50-60. They came on a coral from a reputable local breeder and aquaculturist. So I figure they have these in their tanks and I got a few bonus snails from my last order of frags.

Not to fear though, last night dozens more were out and about on the glass, and my pump has many more eggs on the underside. When the population increases and they have grown in size I will just give some away next time.