Clam eating snails

wisesam · #1 12-16-2009, 04:38 AM

Hi, I have seen many little small pointy white snails at the base of one of my clam.
I think they are eating the clam. What should I do to get rid of the snails?

Borderjumper · #2 12-16-2009, 04:42 AM

I think you have to manually pick the snails off of the clam.

wisesam · #3 12-16-2009, 04:55 AM

Ya I did that already. I also found they laid eggs on the bottom of my clam and I have scrubbed that off.
But should I worried them finding the clams again?

fkshiu · #4 12-16-2009, 05:26 AM

Yes, they are pyramid snails and they will eat your clam alive before your eyes.

Something like a six-line or canary wrasse will help some, but the most effective way is to simply remove the clam and scrub/pick them off AFTER lights out (they're nocturnal). Do this every couple of days for about a month.

They like to attack the clam's byssal opening on the bottom so protecting it by having the clam off the sandbed and firmly holding onto a small piece of rock is a good idea.

wisesam · #5 12-16-2009, 05:55 AM

I've put the two clams onto rocks.
The small one which I found the snails on has lost some byssal flesh. Hopefully it will survive.

Marlin65 · #6 12-16-2009, 09:47 PM

make sure to check every night I would remove at least two or three a night.
They like to stay near the top as well so check that. Also check again after a month of getting rid of them. I thought I had eradicated all of mine only to have them kill off another of my clams after a month.

I ended up losing three clams before I was able to get rid of them all.

Carmen · #7 12-16-2009, 09:57 PM

My canary wrasse really helped keep them in check. It jumped not too long ago and I have noticed them increasing in numbers again.

aoc230 · #8 12-18-2009, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

yes, they are pyramid snails and they will eat your clam alive before your eyes.

Something like a six-line or canary wrasse will help some, but the most effective way is to simply remove the clam and scrub/pick them off after lights out (they're nocturnal). Do this every couple of days for about a month.

They like to attack the clam's byssal opening on the bottom so protecting it by having the clam off the sandbed and firmly holding onto a small piece of rock is a good idea.

a+