I killed them?

[reefgirl189]

What's a reasonable amount of death to my initial clean up crew? Water parameters are bang-on awesome but I've had 3 or more of my 30 cleaning members die this week for unknown reasons. Are they just gorging themselves to death perhaps? All my corals are growing and loving life, it's just the snails that seem to be dieing.

[christyf5]

How long did you acclimate them for? What kind of snails are they? Do they have anything to eat? How old is your tank?

[Mrfish55]

I think that is normal, snails are prone to getting themselves into fatal situations, ie: getting stuck, falling into corals, predatation, etc. Hermit crabs if you have any are notorious for offing a snail in order to upgrade their home.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by Mrfish55

I think that is normal, snails are prone to getting themselves into fatal situations, ie: getting stuck, falling into corals, predatation, etc. Hermit crabs if you have any are notorious for offing a snail in order to upgrade their home.

No this is not normal at all. 30 dead in one week. Something is wrong.

I have barely lost that Many in 5 years.

Keep us posted. Temperature? SG?

[Borderjumper]

Originally Posted by paddyob

No this is not normal at all. 30 dead in one week. Something is wrong.

I have barely lost that Many in 5 years.

Keep us posted. Temperature? SG?

She said 3 of 30 died not 30 died .

[reefgirl189]

Temp fluctuates between 78-79
The species in my CUC are a mix of Trochus, Nerite, Astrea, Turbos and I think some of the Astralium okamotoi variety.
All of the Astralium okamotoi are doing great. The Astreas and turbos all lived too. It is only the Nerites that seem to be the finicky ones.
There is plenty for them to munch on but I just read this on chuck's addiction:

Most Nerites are not suited for aquariums simply because they are inter tidal, moving above the water line and only returning to the water to feed upon algae. I doubt that any of the species made available would be of a suitable species simply because the collectors can easily gather them by their hundreds near the shallow shore lines.

So perhaps this is why they didn't make it.

I'll try not to take it to heart. Sorry for bugging you guys.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by reefgirl189

I'll try not to take it to heart. Sorry for bugging you guys.

It never hurts to ask the question. Thats how we learn

[apexifd]

parasites? like pyramid snail??

predators?? like mantis shrimp?

[Nano]

Yeah I have heard snails are touchy in the acclimation department, I myself have only lost one out of my original 5, I think they are touchy because of their soft skin maybe?

[reefwars]

crabs and shrimp molt making it look theres dead bodies arond , hermits kill snails for their shell when the opportunity arrise leaving empty shells....alot of times an empty shell doesnt mean the occupant is dead...if thats the case