How do I keep the snail shells from looking ugly?

[Subnautica]

I was wondering how in the stores and ocean their shells look so good but as soon as they ended up in my tank they became ugly?

 

[Llyod276]

Just throw out the ugly ones. Go ahead and replace as necessary.

 

[Subnautica]

Just throw out the ugly ones. Go ahead and replace as necessary.

Those trochus are $3 each and conchs are $10.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

In the ocean, they have what’s called snail salons. Lol

 

[Llyod276]

Yeah, way over your head. Point is is that the lfs gets new snails ALL the time. Yours are there till they die, these creatures have shell.

If you're just this kind of person try a tooth brush, and an emery board for the coraline. Or just bring em back to lfs and swap em out.

 

[Subnautica]

Yeah, way over your head. Point is is that the lfs gets new snails ALL the time. Yours are there till they die.

That still doesn't explain why their shells look clean, unless LFS cleaned them one by one before they put them for sale.

 

[Llyod276]

Yup yup, I'm just gonna go **** off. Glenners reef has the right answer.

 

[Astro]

They blend in with stuff on their shells. Not sure why you’d want to change that

 

[vetteguy53081]

These are natural coverings. Hard to clean up a shell with a live snail within

 

[Subnautica]

So if in the ocean there are other cuc to clean the shells off, is it possible to have them in aquaria?

 

[jx.reef]

I find that the snail shells typically reflect the amount of algae present in the tank. If your rockwork is overrun with algae, your snails are usually covered as well. Tanks with clean rocks (algae free) have algae free snails.

 

[Subnautica]

I find that the snail shells typically reflect the amount of algae present in the tank. If your rockwork is overrun with algae, your snails are usually covered as well. Tanks with clean rocks (algae free) have algae free snails.

Thanks. This might be the answer I'm looking for.

 

[Llyod276]

I'll take the ban, is it just me or does OP sound like a Karen?

 

[Miami Reef]

I like your snail shells!

 

[Miami Reef]

I'll take the ban, is it just me or does OP sound like a Karen?

I don’t agree with you. Snail shells have really cool/pretty patterns. Maybe OP wants to see them. It’s completely understandable.

 

[Miami Reef]

Oh. And the reason the LFS’s snail shells look really clean is because they are usually fresh from the ocean. We maintain our tanks with higher nutrients overall than the ocean and it’s the reason why rocks and shells easily get covered.

 

[Llyod276]

Here's my thought process: the snail shells are sessile as in don't move once there they are there. They don't molt. Snails can kill off the algea by retreating to a dark area but generally the algea and coraline will return. Not only that but these signs point to healthy via coraline. And high nutrients via green algea. Maybe the cuc for the green algea is an herbivore, tang etc, they eat this stuff. The coraline is a pain to scrape off like literal sandpaper.

 

[Subnautica]

I'll take the ban, is it just me or does OP sound like a Karen?

No. I guess it was just a misunderstanding. I guess my point is, why are the shells in aquariums different than in the ocean and what can I do to make it possible?. You said to throw them away/exchange at LFS. I guess you have a point, but that doesn't seem like a viable option at all. It's like asking "how to keep my house clean" and the answer is "moving out"?

Also, someone else said in the ocean they have snail salons. Unless he/she was joking, I assume there are other inverts to keep the snails clean. If so, why is it not possible to have them in aquaria?

 

[Subnautica]

Here's my thought process: the snail shells are sessile as in don't move once there they are there. They don't molt. Snails can kill off the algea by retreating to a dark area but generally the algea and coraline will return. Not only that but these signs point to healthy via coraline. And high nutrients via green algea. Maybe the cuc for the green algea is an herbivore, tang etc, they eat this stuff. The coraline is a pain to scrape off like literal sandpaper.

Yeah thank you. Sorry for my replies above as I submitted before I saw you guys' other comments.

 

[Chrisv.]

Could touch them up with acrylic paint? Or a sharpie?