My trochus and astrea have created their own biome

xdcbenoitxd · Nov 20, 2022

So I was just wondering if anyone had some advice on how to help my snails. I restarted this tank a while back and had a long battle with hair algae. I eventually won months ago (or the microfauna did) however my poor little snails have not. They are covered in hair algae. I have to take them out every so often to give them "haircuts". It can grow so long on them they look like trolls. Last I pulled one out I realized it had a full thriving biome. Within the hair algae there are sponges, spaghetti worms, bristles worms, limpets, Coraline and ostacods. I feel bad for them as they have to haul that everywhere they go. There is zero algae growing anywhere else in my reef tank, so how do I get it to stop growing on my snails without hurting them?

Thanks

Om84 · Nov 20, 2022

Lol. I have the same issue. My guy even managed to get a piece of chaeto and have pods living on him. He really does have a whole another biome to himself.

xdcbenoitxd · Nov 20, 2022

Om84 said:
Lol. I have the same issue. My guy even managed to get a piece of chaeto and have pods living on him. He really does have a whole another biome to himself.

That's awesome glad it's not just me. I considered taken them out and painting their shells with hydrogen peroxide using a makeup brush but I'm scared it would be too harsh.

Salo001 · Nov 20, 2022

Get some hermit crabs they will go ahead and eat it! That's what got rid of all the algea on mine after dinos.

FSP · Nov 20, 2022

If you can round them up in a basket or other critter holder, they'll clean each other.

damsels are not mean · Nov 20, 2022

I have noticed a commensal relationship between scuds and astrea snails in my tank. There is always a single large scud under the shell that eats its poop and fiercely defends that snail from other amphipods. It's very interesting. I also have a similar issue to you with algae but it's cyano on the shells instead of GHA.

xdcbenoitxd · Nov 21, 2022

Salo001 said:
Get some hermit crabs they will go ahead and eat it! That's what got rid of all the algea on mine after dinos.

That's a great idea except I decided a long time ago I was not going to put hermits in my reef.

xdcbenoitxd · Nov 21, 2022

FSP said:
If you can round them up in a basket or other critter holder, they'll clean each other.

Thanks I'm just not sure they're going to be able to witt the worms on it.

xdcbenoitxd · Nov 21, 2022

damsels are not mean said:
I have noticed a commensal relationship between scuds and astrea snails in my tank. There is always a single large scud under the shell that eats its poop and fiercely defends that snail from other amphipods. It's very interesting. I also have a similar issue to you with algae but it's cyano on the shells instead of GHA.

It's fun to watch them have these little relationships I love it. But I think this one might be more of an abusive relationship for my snail lol

TheReefDiary · Nov 21, 2022

xdcbenoitxd said:
So I was just wondering if anyone had some advice on how to help my snails. I restarted this tank a while back and had a long battle with hair algae. I eventually won months ago (or the microfauna did) however my poor little snails have not. They are covered in hair algae. I have to take them out every so often to give them "haircuts". It can grow so long on them they look like trolls. Last I pulled one out I realized it had a full thriving biome. Within the hair algae there are sponges, spaghetti worms, bristles worms, limpets, Coraline and ostacods. I feel bad for them as they have to haul that everywhere they go. There is zero algae growing anywhere else in my reef tank, so how do I get it to stop growing on my snails without hurting them?

Thanks

sometimes I have snail trains. literally had 3 snails on each other once each eating algae of the others shell. picture came out like ****. it was pretty funny to watch. honestly I just leave it. doesn't really bother me and it never gets to the point where it's seems like a nuisance to the snail.