Nassarius Snails - No sand bed

[govolsguy31]

Hey guys-

We moved last weekend, which meant a total tear-down and rebuild of my 90G reef. We made the decision to ditch our deep sand bed and currently have no substrate in the aquarium. I actually like it a lot better. We've had issues with cyno/ red algae since the tank was established 2+ years ago and the sand seems to be the main culprit to that (it was reused sand... I know... I know... we'll call that lack of experience in the beginning). Anyway...

Everyone is happy and doing well, except I have about 8 or 10 Nassarius Snails. They've got no sand to bury down in. Should I find them new homes, or will they be ok without a sand bed?

We still may do some type of thin substrate, but we haven't decided yet.

Any input would be helpful! Thanks!

 

[Aco5000]

Personally, id recommend a new home, they are mainly nocturnal and forage in and around the sand bed for detritus, mine literally boil out of the sand at night in search of food, I'm not sure they'd fair to well without a substrate

 

[Kmsutows]

I would rehome them. It will be tough for them to get food as itll probably blow around before they get to it even if you spot feed them

 

[govolsguy31]

I was afraid that would be the consensus. I like them and always enjoyed watching them do their "zombie" thing. LOL

Ok, I'll see about finding them a home.

 

[legionofdoon]

I have them with no sandbed they just hide in the rock. My daughters collected them locally. They come out every time I feed and they appear to be breeding.

 

[afuel]

I have 3 of them in my 200 and it’s bb they hide under rocks during the day and seem to be doing fine for several months now

 

[legionofdoon]

I do shut off my pumps when I feed though.

 

[govolsguy31]

Well that's encouraging! Hmmm....

 

[govolsguy31]

I do shut off my pumps when I feed though.

I do too, for 5-10 minutes. Of course, I obviously feed during the day. Yours come out and eat under light? I know they're typically nocturnal.

 

[legionofdoon]

Yes they come out with the lights on, just like coral polyps do in a tank with no predators.

 

[afuel]

I have Vortech and vector pumps that I put in feed mode so nothing shuts completely off just next to no flow and my snails do get active when I feed late in the evening. The lights have dimmed by the time I feed at night so maybe that helps them

 

[legionofdoon]

Here are some babies in my sump.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Here some no substrate , 1 1/2yrs with them

 

[Aco5000]

Pretty sure those babies look to be cerith snails but diet is the same

 

[legionofdoon]

Your probably right.

 

[legionofdoon]

Here is a nasarius.