Nassarius Snails

btkrausen · Apr 8, 2012

Every time I buy Nassarius snails, big or small, they never last very long. I'll buy a nice group of them, and 6 months later there are barely any left - at least what I can tell. Its fun to watch them all rise from the dead when you feed (haha) but not sure if they are worth it.

Thoughts? Have you had them last longer?

weaponsofmassdesign · Apr 8, 2012

I've got a couple in a 10g that have been in there for about 2 years.

skinz78 · Apr 8, 2012

I have a few that I've had for a few years now. They are like vulture's.

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steamer51 · Apr 8, 2012

All my Nassarius snails have been in there since 2006. Maybe they are the offspring of the originals but I haven't added any more. I know you keep an extremely clean tank so perhaps they are not getting enough to eat. I also do not keep any wrasses or crabs so that may be your problem also.

btkrausen · Apr 8, 2012

steamer51 said:
All my Nassarius snails have been in there since 2006. Maybe they are the offspring of the originals but I haven't added any more. I know you keep an extremely clean tank so perhaps they are not getting enough to eat. I also do not keep any wrasses or crabs so that may be your problem also.

Great point Jim. Once I get my tank going again, I'm not putting crabs in it this time....only a ton of snails :) Now that I think of it, that's probably been my problem all along, haha.

Aquaph8 · Apr 8, 2012

I've seen a few fish nip at them and always thought that was why.

Mike&Terry · Apr 8, 2012

We keep a lot of nassarius and don't have any issues, but we feed our fish heavy, so there is plenty to eat for all. We also keep a lot of dwarf ceriths and have to re-stock them much more often as our 5 leopards and filefish view them as tasty treats.

DarkSephiroth · Apr 8, 2012

I have a tons of nassarius in my tanks and they are all there, how often do you feed?
Every 3-4 days i sprinkled some sinking pellets down at the bottom so they eat (only at night). May want to try that out and see

Poseidon · Apr 8, 2012

Just say NO TO CRABS! ;) :) ;)

soccerbag · Apr 8, 2012

Poseidon said:
Just say NO TO CRABS! ;) :) ;)

+1!!! lol

_sludgefactory · Apr 8, 2012

What kind of sand do u have? When i had crushed coral mine would die like crazy. Now i have sugar fine and they do well.

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fsu1dolfan · Apr 9, 2012

I have a tougher time keeping ceriths alive. Between no hermits and extra food during feeding time, my nass have been going strong.

btkrausen · Apr 9, 2012

I normally feed multiple times a day and use Pink Fiji and Sea Floor Special substrate. Definitely not getting crabs this time, haha

Ladybug5234 · Apr 9, 2012

If you have hermits - of any kind - they kill Nassarius for their shells.

matty0206 · Apr 9, 2012

I think the key to these guys is food. I don't think anything but a huge sandbed can sustain them without supplemental feeding.

_sludgefactory · Apr 9, 2012

I don't have a huge sand bed at all and mine are fine.

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Ladybug5234 · Apr 9, 2012

[h=2]Food Habits[/h]The diet of the Common Eastern Nassa consists mainly of carrion and some eggs of certain sand-dwelling polychaetes. The Nassa comes out of the sand to eat the carrion and, most of the time, it must move up-current to eat. Scientists and researchers are not sure if they are obligate carrion-feeders. Obligate carrion-feeders are those animals that will not harm most or all other animals in the systen in which they are living.

Interestingly enough, people are starting to have the Common Eastern Nassa as pets. They are using these animals as alternates to having a hermit crab. Also, Nassas are the only members of the whelk family that are not predatory.

Portner, M. 2002. "Nassarius vibex" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 09, 2012 at ADW: Nassarius vibex: INFORMATION