Pyramid snail battle begins

DSC reef · Jul 26, 2017

Any tips for battling these nasty clam eaters? Me and my wife just removed all the astrea snails due to them being covered in pyramids. The little maxima has succumbed to them and I believe our large squamosa is being eaten too. We just bought a blue squamosa so perfect timing. We've had our large squamosa about 5 years now so any advice is appreciated. Other than manual removal every night maybe a yellow coris to aid in the battle? There's a lot of colonista snails too and it seems like the pyramids like them as well.

jmp21677 · Jul 26, 2017

I lost three clams in a few days. Wrasse is supposed to help. I removed all snails and scrubbed the clams with a toothbrush every night. Good luck!

DSC reef · Jul 27, 2017

Looks like that's gonna be the plan. It's strange to see the tank without any astrea snails but they were covered in pyramids.

Tahoe61 · Jul 27, 2017

Remember Wrasses are diurnal and Pyramids mostly nocturnal. I have tried that approach with little pay back.
Pyramids are difficult to eradicate, manual removal, removal of larger snails as they are parasitic to snails as well, clams up on pedestals and again manual removal. With an expansive clam collection or if able clams to a separate tank for monitoring and removal of Pyramids.
Good luck in your battle, and let us know how you win the war.

DSC reef · Jul 27, 2017

At this point getting a wrasse would just aid in the battle (plus we love them) and we'll take all the help we can get. Lol. My wife has an eagle eye so every night we will be scrubbing. The large squamosa is so big now that I can't prop him up but the blue squamosa I believe we can. The timing really sucks but that's reefing. The pyramids are feeding on colonistas too and there's a bunch of them. Not sure where they came from but we were shocked to see how many pyramids were covering the astrea snails.

DSC reef · Jul 27, 2017

I'm wondering if a freshwater dip is necessary for our big squamosa? His incurrent siphon is gaping and he's repeatedly closing more often. Can't see any snails on him but I'm curious if there inside? So far we lost the maxima but the blue squamosa is showing no signs of stress. Vote for freshwater dipping the big squamosa?

reef lover · Jul 27, 2017

I would only fw dip as a last resort. Lots of stress on the clam. Are you flipping the clams over checking the byssal opening. And all the sclutes(spelling?) on the shell? I as well am fighting this battle. down to only seeing one here and there but I still check everyday. Haven't seen eggs in awhile. With perserverence u will prevail! Good luck.

DSC reef · Jul 27, 2017

We are looking everyday and my wife does at night. Scrubbing with a tooth brush as well. The pyramids are visible in the schutes, we're just worried about them being inside the clam. We've had great success with clams but this is by far the biggest outbreak of pyramids I've seen. Thanks everyone for the advice, we will be patient and diligent. It will be heartbreaking to loose our big clam, he's been with us since the beginning.

Lovemyreef2015 · Jul 27, 2017

reef lover said:
I would only fw dip as a last resort. Lots of stress on the clam. Are you flipping the clams over checking the byssal opening. And all the sclutes(spelling?) on the shell? I as well am fighting this battle. down to only seeing one here and there but I still check everyday. Haven't seen eggs in awhile. With perserverence u will prevail! Good luck.

I will be checking the clam every night and during the day when our daughter is taking her nap. If I see one, even if it's on the colonistas I just take both out. We made the decision to hold off for awhile on the freshwater dip until we see if we can try to get it under control manually. We are also going to get a wrasse. We wanted to get another anyway so if it helps it's a bonus. Thanks

Duraticate · Jul 27, 2017

These pest had plagued my tank for months. I would daily remove them from my astera snails. I believe they are also the cause of death to my fighting conches there for a bit. Tiny nasty little buggers. I did try a clam once after i stopped seeing them on my other snails but never checked the clam. I lost the clam to other things i would say. I believe them pests are gone now. I had a heater failure for a couple months not knowing it and the tank sat at around 87. I dont know if this helps anyone. What little researxh i did my choice to combat them was going to be a green wrasse. Best of luck. Maybe here soon i will try another clam

DSC reef · Jul 28, 2017

The large squamosa is definitely stressed, his incurrent siphon is never open this much

reef lover · Jul 29, 2017

Could just b the pic but appears the inhalent siphon is higher than the exhalent. Should b the other way around with water flow going up and over the mantle. That could stress him out. Are u still finding heavy snail presence?

DSC reef · Jul 29, 2017

The clam positions himself that way. For the last 3 years to be exact. After we removed all the astrea snails there is definitely a lot less. There still there though so we're keeping a close eye for sure.

Lovemyreef2015 · Jul 29, 2017

reef lover said:
Could just b the pic but appears the inhalent siphon is higher than the exhalent. Should b the other way around with water flow going up and over the mantle. That could stress him out. Are u still finding heavy snail presence?

we haven't seen a lot of snails. But it doesn't mean they aren't there. We keep removing them. Hopefully not to late for our big squamosa. Thanks

DSC reef · Aug 1, 2017

I believe were winning the battle against pyramid snails but the big squamosa died. A real bummer, that was my first clam since entering the hobby. Grew him from just 3". So far the blue squamosa is doing good, we look constantly and after the lights go out for pyramids. Tank looks so empty without that big guy.

bsagea · Aug 1, 2017

Sorry for your loss! Been there and I know it's difficult. If you should get a clam, and there is a clear slimy gob of stuff - don't know any other way to describe it - on the bottom towards the bysal or anywhere on the shell inside or out, take a paper towel, toothbrush or cloth and wipe the gob away. They are pyramidal snail eggs! The damage something that small can do is incredible and sad.
bsa

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-02/nftt/index.php

DSC reef · Aug 1, 2017

Thank you bsagea. I found a slimy gob on the blue squamosa so I scrubbed him down. We're keeping a real close eye. The big squamosa was definitely a big loss and I appreciate the advice and kind words.