Pyramilid snails and a new tank.

[Chris Harbaugh]

I just recently lost a Crocea Clam about 3 weeks ago after having him for over 6 months. I couldn't figure out why until last night when I saw my Blue Squamose clam looking stressed with his inhaling siphon wide opened plus he was moving for 3 or 4 days. I picked him up to look at him and bam... pyramilid snails.. I'm so ticked... it all adds up. I will be going full bored on cleaning him in a bucket of mixed sea water every night but I am putting together a 180g tank and getting it up and running by Christmas and I was, WAS thinking about using my live rock In the 125g. I have to ask you all if you think I may still be able to do this?? I'm on a budget and had planned on moving all my corals and clams into the new tank when ready.. what's do you guys think?? I don't have snails in my tank, haven't had any for over a year.. just clams and a mixed reef tank..

 

[DSC reef]

We're fighting a loosing battle with pyramids too. Lost our 12" squamosa I had for over 5 years and our blue squamosa is on its way out. I believe letting them starve is a good idea. Not sure how long it will take though. We have a bunch of baby collinista snails so it might be over a year before I can add another clam.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Sorry for your lost! I hope my clams don't get hit by those mini monsters, I randomly check my clams with flash light after light out pretty much every night for those snails. I also keep my six line wrasse as clams bodyguard for that reason hehehe every clams I place in my tank I saw my wrasse came and investigate new resident very closely lol and it still does that very often on daily basic, and basically every new clam I used magnifying glass to check for those snail under abyssal place and top shell part then their scutes, I do my best to keep them clean of parasites but you never know .

 

[DSC reef]

Not to hijack but if you have any snails in the tank yuki, keep a close eye on them as well. I believe thats where they came from. We first noticed them on the astrea snails hiding on the edges.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Not to hijack but if you have any snails in the tank yuki, keep a close eye on them as well. I believe thats where they came from. We first noticed them on the astrea snails hiding on the edges.

Good call, thanks.

 

[Chris Harbaugh]

I did have astrea snails in my tank over 9 months ago and took them out in favor of Tangs. I never looked for these killers on them, never thought it would be a problem. every lam I have gotten I looked over and never one time seen any snails on them.. I would like to use my live rock in the 180g but not if its got these snails on them... how long do pyramilian snails live?? do they eat anything other than snails and lams ??

 

[DSC reef]

I'm not sure exactly on there life span but I'd wait at least 6 months. They can hide in rock and from what I've read they feed on snails, clams bodily fluids.

 

[Chris Harbaugh]

I plan on cleaning my clam 2 times a day. 1st is a hour after my night settings take affect and again at around 4:30 am when I get up to go to work and do it with a tooth brush in a bucket of saltwater I got from a water change I did tonight.. is this too much?? Will that stress out the clam too much?? I have a melanarus wrasse and a 4 line wrasse but after flooding my Crocea and now knowing what the problem is I want the bugs gone

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

I plan on cleaning my clam 2 times a day. 1st is a hour after my night settings take affect and again at around 4:30 am when I get up to go to work and do it with a tooth brush in a bucket of saltwater I got from a water change I did tonight.. is this too much?? Will that stress out the clam too much?? I have a melanarus wrasse and a 4 line wrasse but after flooding my Crocea and now knowing what the problem is I want the bugs gone

It would be stresses out but it will die if you do nothing, I don't think you have a choice neither your clam. It's live or die situation here