steve-s Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Hi Guys, What do you guys use as a clean up crew over here? Back in Australia I used small striped leg hermit crabs and trochus snails but I have just found out that the hermits are not available here in NZ. Trochus snails tend to starve if you dont have enough rock surface for them to graze on and I only have a small (30L) tank. What types of snails can be used for algae control and how readily available are they? Are there any other inverts which could do the same job in a small tank? Cheers, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Steve most reefers have various types of snails in their tanks, if you get to know some locals you can probably score a few. But if not, just head down the beach and grab a few off the rocks, they are temperate snails and normally only last a few months, but I have one in my tank that has been there for a good year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-s Posted October 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Thanks Wasp, looks like I'm heading down to the beach on my next day off to go snail hunting. Weather permitting. Cheers, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Wasp I seem to be getting hundreds of those tiny snails are they OK?They must have come in on a coral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 If you mean the ones the same as the pic that Layton posted, then yes thats good. I got the same amount....millions of babies. They will balance out eventually and clean up the tank nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 If you mean the ones the same as the pic that Layton posted Where did he post them so I can have a look or can you take a photo please. Thanks Fay P.S. have been worried about this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Do you mean this one? If so I don't think they are, they are tiny round ones that don't seem to grow any bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tel Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 those are Astraeas. ive got a few adults and now some babies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 dont worry Fay, they are in most peoples tanks, the tiny ones, and come out mainly at night. Like Cracker said, they will settle down to the number your tank can handle. I agree with you, they aren't baby Astraeas, as they don't get any bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Yes that sound like them puttputt they are that small can't even get a good photo and they come out at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 They're harmless Fay. Enjoy the diversity, its hard to get in NZ, with no live rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 You've certainly got a heap of them Fay! Same ones in my tank they're just harmless grazers. I've found when food is short for them they don't grow, they breed pretty quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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