Snail efficiency

[Tyler_Fishman]

What is your most efficient algae eating mollusc? my experiences are astrea snails very slow not really active, they are very pretty but not what I was looking for, they also die really easily, come from mostly cold water, and cannot right themselves, Then I got a trochus and everything changed, they are not only the polar opposite to astreas they are great. They are fast, can flip over, and hardy. Even better they are primarily nocturnal, so those who do not want to see snails crawling everywhere on the glass in the day time, this is the perfect snail. I can even remove the snail from the tank juggle it around and it will get right back to work munching algae when I put it back, amazing! Whats your experience with snails?

 

[billwill]

Abalone.

 

[Krzydmnd]

I have 5 turban Snails that keep my 32 g in tip top shape. They only come out at night. Only problem is that they are pretty big and occasionally knock frags around.

 

[norfolkgarden]

5 smaller Turbo's and 5 astrea in a 75 gallon tank.

Not;

Cerith, just become homes for hermit crabs.

Margarita snails are cold water snails that don't like 78 degrees for any amount of time.

The orange Chestnut snails and the Ninja throwing star astraea snails never lived more than 2 weeks.

Still need to try a Trochus! No local access currently.

 

[don_chuwish]

Trochus, especially captive bred (ORA) are the best by far.
Also good to have Nassarius of course.
I like Cerith snails' different grazing habit than Trochus. Some do die off too rapidly but I also have some in the tank that are very long lived (years). ORA captive bred available now I see.

 

[norfolkgarden]

Love the Ceriths while they lasted.

They always became homes for the blue leg hermits, even with similar-sized empty shells already available.

Certain our money snail is at least 4 years old.
Can't guarantee ages on any of the others.

The half dozen dwarf zebra hermits, half dozen blue leg hermits and 3 Scarlet hermits are all at least 4 years old.