Snails for a 20g cube

[tzoa]

How many Trocus snails and Cerith snails can I put in a 20g cube without starving them?

 

[Reef.]

How many Trocus snails and Cerith snails can I put in a 20g cube without starving them?

Depends…new tank or mature, algae or no algae etc etc

Maybe start with 5 of each, see how you go.

 

[tzoa]

Depends…new tank or mature, algae or no algae etc etc

Maybe start with 5 of each, see how you go.

2 weeks old, in the ugly stage rn

 

[Reef.]

2 weeks old, in the ugly stage rn

So probably not a lot of algae yet, I would go for sand snails for now and add the others when you start seeing green algae.

Nassarius Snails and a conch would be my choice, though don’t add a Halloween hermit crab if you want your conch to keep it’s shell!

 

[Tahoe61]

2 weeks old, in the ugly stage rn

Snails don't help with the ugly stage unfortunately.

 

[Reef.]

Snails don't help with the ugly stage unfortunately.

Of course they do, even if the snails were to just turn over the sand but they do more than that, they also eat detritus and diatoms and add biodiversity.

 

[Tahoe61]

Of course they do, even if the snails were to just turn over the sand but they do more than that, they also eat detritus and diatoms and add biodiversity.

Not all snails turn over sand, many don't eat detritus. Most snails introduced to a 2 week old tank starve and die, with the exception of Nassarius. A couple of smaller hermits would be a better choice.

 

[tzoa]

So probably not a lot of algae yet, I would go for sand snails for now and add the others when you start seeing green algae.

Nassarius Snails and a conch would be my choice, though don’t add a Halloween hermit crab if you want your conch to keep it’s shell!

how many nassarius snails could fit? Also there is film algae

 

[Reef.]

Not all snails turn over sand, many don't eat detritus. Most snails introduced to a 2 week old tank starve and die, with the exception of Nassarius. A couple of smaller hermits would be a better choice.

Thats why I suggested two snails that do turn over the sand and eat detritus.

 

[skey44]

Depends…new tank or mature, algae or no algae etc etc

Maybe start with 5 of each, see how you go.

I tend to agree with this. Maybe just the five trochus (red banded) at first though. I’d also add a tiger conch, two super Tongan nassarius, and 5 small hermits (blue/red/scalet). I added trochus early in my tank and they bred like crazy. So don’t let the haters say they will starve. As long as you see some algae on the rocks glass and sand they won’t starve :)
A pic would also help. I’ll also add as long as you’re cycled. If there’s ammonia they will die.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I would keep adding them over time, especially the bigger algae eaters like trocus, astrea, turbo, etc.

I’ve always started with live rock and had snails in the tank as soon as the lights were running.

Start off with maybe 10 or 12 and see what that does.

 

[Reef.]

how many nassarius snails could fit? Also there is film algae

3-4 maybe, they also appreciate a little meat too, mine come out when I add a piece of squid for the shrimps, they climb all over it.

 

[tzoa]

I would keep adding them over time, especially the bigger algae eaters like trocus, astrea, turbo, etc.

Start off with maybe 10 or 12 and see what that does.

12 seems like a lot lol

 

[Reef.]

how many nassarius snails could fit? Also there is film algae

Missed the film algae…snails will eat film algae but in my experience they don’t do much to clear it, a glass scraper is what will clear that for you.

 

[bobnicaragua]

12 seems like a lot lol

Starting off you may be right, but that’s not too high once your tank gets going.

 

[tzoa]

Missed the film algae…snails will eat film algae but in my experience they don’t do much to clear it, a glass scraper is what will clear that for you.

I know, I was just saying there food for them

 

[tzoa]

I tend to agree with this. Maybe just the five trochus (red banded) at first though. I’d also add a tiger conch, two super Tongan nassarius, and 5 small hermits (blue/red/scalet). I added trochus early in my tank and they bred like crazy. So don’t let the haters say they will starve. As long as you see some algae on the rocks glass and sand they won’t starve :)
A pic would also help. I’ll also add as long as you’re cycled. If there’s ammonia they will die.

Also I should have mentioned I have 2 trocus snails in there right now. I was just curious what ratio of trocus to cerith and how many

 

[Reef.]

Also I should have mentioned I have 2 trocus snails in there right now. I was just curious what ratio of trocus to cerith and how many

I would wait before adding more, that tank is far too clean yet.

You could add a cleaner shrimp if you are eager to add something but you would need to feed it as it won’t be able to find enough food itself.

 

[samuelkl]

You can add more snails, but you probably need to feed them additionally. Nassarius snails will eat the leftovers from feeding the clownfish but trochus, cerith need feedings to survive in your tank. I supplement with hikari algae wafers so my snails don’t starve. You can add as many as you want as long as you feed them. Ceriths and trochus can eventually breed in your tank so get 3-5 each to increase your chances of that

 

[skey44]

Yeah tank too clean for a bunch of snails. Wait to add more. Think hermits and nassarius ok for now. I like trochus, cerith just seem pointless to me, but I know others like them.