Aquarium housekeepers: What are your thoughts on snails in your reef tank?

[Alfie]

I have only ever had real live rock so I got used to whatever was in there a long time ago lol

 

[doubleshot00]

I think some have there place but in the end dont do much. I do have a huge turbo that stays on the back glass and keep it really clean. I have a few trochus and astrea but don’t see them doing much. Now nassarius and conchs are a must imo for eating the left overs.

 

[Koigula]

When there is snail vs. Hermit crab gang violence

This was the early 2000s model by Garf. 100 snails and 50 hermit crabs per tank, Not I have about 4 tank rats

 

[bushdoc]

They are too slow, but they make good Hors D'oeuvres.

 

[zoomonster]

I keep a whole variety of CUC but when it comes to snails I only have two dislikes.
Mexican turbo snails are awesome cleaners but being they get to golf ball size they make a one snail wrecking crew. I still have a few but no more. I like my fighting conches, but they can be wreckers too knocking stuff over on the sandbed.

Dwarf cerithes, planaxis, periwinkles and most dwarfs should be avoided IMO. Might be good at cleaning small places but they will destroy powerheads and pumps that they will inevitably get into.

Favorites are Astrea, Nassarious small and large, Trochus and some misc others.

 

[Jrain904]

never getting nerite snails either in freshwater of saltwater. Just end up finding them all over the floors

They are definitely better suited for rimmed aquariums

 

[kenchilada]

I use 1 astrea snail per 10 gallons. Done it this way since the 90's.

My 220G has been running three years with the same 20 snails.

 

[DHill6]

Red banded Trochius, bumblebee, lightning dove, Florida certh. All good workers.

 

[KrisReef]

In what situation are snails bad?

A few, but limited situations.
I have a siphon that feeds a filter and they sometimes get sucked out of their shells if they get too close to the intake. They block the flow which stops the filter and it kills the snail if I don't catch it quickly. Same issue if they find a way to block an overflow pipe. Getting them out can be tricky, and they have been responsible for a few floods I have heard stories about.

Then there are those snails that feed on clams, Pyramid snails which I suppose are fine if you don't have clams?

And I have a monster turbo snail that is about the same size as a golf ball. That thing can knock over huge chunks of live rock and plow through corals and frag racks like a cyclone.

Otherwise, they eat stuff and are model citizens usually.

 

[DIYreefer]

My tangs decimate any hint of algae in my tanks, I have no need for snails.

 

[OscarHaglund]

I hate trochus snails, they are expensive and inevitably die within months.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Love snails in the aquarium. Reef safe ones anyways.

My nerites like to climb out once in a while, but other than that, love them.

I keep nassarius, nerite, cerith, and conch in every tank. In my 6g, I have a bubble bee and some zigzag periwinkles.

 

[Lukielight]

Add me to the list of not liking turbos. They just keep knocking off the frags I glue to the rock.

 

[Koigula]

Add me to the list of not liking turbos. They just keep knocking off the frags I glue to the rock.

Mexican turbos are best for red or green turf algaes, not much else as bull dozers

 

[Scott's reef]

I don't have a preference for snail's. When I started years back I jumped on the hipe band wagon that you gotta have all these different types of snail's and you had to have so many per gallon. I'm a believer in utilitarian fish i.e. tangs, gobies and file fish. I keep a couple Mexican turbo snail's and a few other's but I'll never go with the "gotta have snail's " band wagon again.

 

[dnprall]

I love my snails. I have a single Mexican Turbo and two ninja star snails (along with some Trochus; the hermits ate the Cerith and stole the shells). Also, have a tiger conch.

 

[Brian Berry]

I think snails are useful, and personally like them... My wife, however, CANNOT STAND them. She tolerates them because of their utility, but would definitely prefer not to have them (nudis / sea hares are strictly forbidden).

She like our conch, though.

 

[merkmerk73]

I hate trochus snails, they are expensive and inevitably die within months.

I haven't had this problem with Trochus snails (the die within months)

I'm 4 months and counting on one of my largest without any issues

They do disappear during the day and tend to come out at night

 

[ARCkeeper]

In what situation are snails bad?

Vermetids!

 

[Aspect]

Vermetids!

I thought the post was implying the typical cleaner snails. But yes I have vermitids and they are spreading like crazy not really sure what I can do about them.