Encrusting tube snail predators?

[MartinM]

Does anyone know natural predator for encrusting tube snails? Theee guys are growing everywhere and get pretty large (a few centimeters) and the shells are so strong it takes pliers to remove them from the rock! I’m hoping there’s maybe a wrasse or other fish that might eat then when they’re small? I hear Tidal Gardens uses yellow coris wrasse for this I think but I’m not certain. Advice is appreciated, thanks!

 

[Brit’s Fish]

I have a Yellow Coris Wrasse and several other wrasses and they don’t even look at them. I do have Bumblebee snails in every tank and I do not have Vermetids any more. I’d suggest adding those! Otherwise, you can scrape them off at their base but you have to get the whole thing. Others have had some success gluing them shut. I just prefer the Bumblebee snails… plus they’re kinda cute!

 

[MartinM]

Do you know if Bumblebee snails are predatory towards any other snails? I have multiple species of snails breeding in my aquarium and I don’t want to kill those off.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Do you know if Bumblebee snails are predatory towards any other snails? I have multiple species of snails breeding in my aquarium and I don’t want to kill those off.

They have not been in my experience. I have so many different types of snails and they have never bothered anything. Other types I have for reference - Mexican turbos, astrea, red banded Trochus, zebra turbos, small and large nassarius, Babylonian snails (also never had an issue with these going after anything), Tiger and Fighting conchs, money cowries… I’m probably forgetting some but I too love the inverts! The most attention I ever have to give to the Bumblebees is when my urchins pick them up. Then they need a little help, lol.

 

[jkcoon]

started using bumble bee snails from reef cleaners a few months ago and have noticed a marked improvement; added more a couple weeks ago to up the game

 

[kingoftheHiLLpeople]

Bumblebee snails are predatory. They can eat other snails if hungry

 

[vtecintegra]

I've seen my bumblebees eating other snails. Any snail that falls and can't right itself, the bumblebees are all over it.

 

[SPS2020]

As above, personal experience...they will eat other snails.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Wow! I guess I’ve been getting lucky!

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I have only 2 bumble bee snails for my whole 250g tank. It's all about balance.
D

 

[MartinM]

I have only 2 bumble bee snails for my whole 250g tank. It's all about balance.
D

I do have two, but they don’t seem to be doing anything to the tube snails

 

[MartinM]

I’ll try getting some more bumblebee snails because I probably have 50 tube snails and the population keeps increasing…

 

[14 foot reef]

I just added 200 Bumble Bees to my 650 Gallon display Reef tank. I'll keep you posted on how they work, as I would say, I'm close to infestation status with Vermetidae Snails

 

[MartinM]

Good luck! Manual removal helped me a bunch with the tube snails.

 

[LARedstickreefer]

I’ve got hundreds of these little devils. Nothing like getting impaled whenever I get my hands close to my rocks….

They seem to grow right back after being knocked off the rocks, too.

 

[TopClamSkoo]

I have a Yellow Coris Wrasse and several other wrasses and they don’t even look at them. I do have Bumblebee snails in every tank and I do not have Vermetids any more. I’d suggest adding those! Otherwise, you can scrape them off at their base but you have to get the whole thing. Others have had some success gluing them shut. I just prefer the Bumblebee snails… plus they’re kinda cute!

I heard bumblebees eating corals.. that not true? I used to have a tank invested with them long ago.. I would crush them everytime I see them.. it was a pain.

 

[TopClamSkoo]

I heard bumblebees eating corals.. that not true? I used to have a tank invested with them long ago.. I would crush them everytime I see them.. it was a pain.

I have a Yellow Coris Wrasse and several other wrasses and they don’t even look at them. I do have Bumblebee snails in every tank and I do not have Vermetids any more. I’d suggest adding those! Otherwise, you can scrape them off at their base but you have to get the whole thing. Others have had some success gluing them shut. I just prefer the Bumblebee snails… plus they’re kinda cute!

Nvmd. This has been addressed on this thread