Mustafa's snails

[sea15823]

Got my snails and macroalgae today. Very interesting creatures they are. Are the ones that I got babies and if they are how much bigger will they get? How long do they live?

[Varanus]

In the low nutrient environment of a supershrimp tank I wouldn't expect them to get much more than half an inch in length (with a lot of food they can get over twice that size). As for lifespan,I'm not sure. I am pretty sure at least a few of my originals are still alive and I got them over a year ago.

[sea15823]

I have only a couple of days ago received my snails. I'm not sure if I should be concerned but they don't seem to be very active. My substate is aquarium gravel with a little crushed coral mixed in. They seem to always be buried just below the surface not really moving much if at all. I thought they might be trying to find food like the thick layer of biofilm on top. Should I be worried? The tank is about 3/4 of a gallon and been set up for going on 2 weeks.

[Varanus]

They are moving some, right? Check them at different times of day, mine seem to be more active in the evening. Chances are they are simply grazing on the biofilm on the gravel. They likely won't move around much or patrol the surface until the food in their immediate vicinity is exhausted.

[sea15823]

I got the snails Thursday. Initially that evening they were fairly active but probably since second half of yesterday have been in the gravel not moving much if at all. Maybe my ammonia is too high or there isn't yet enough food growing for them to eat?

[Varanus]

Its just as likely that they are full and/or resting. I'd test the water or just add some conditioner, but otherwise wait and see.

[Mustafa]

If they were moving around the first day and then dug themselves in, they're fine. These are first and foremost nocturnal and burrowing creatures and you'll only see a few during the day even later on. They're probably just munching on whatever is in the gravel. Can you even see all of them? (And yes, these are juvies (several months old), but in Supershrimp tank they don't get a whole lot bigger..."babies" are tiny and of course I don't ship those).

[sea15823]

Thank you very much Mustafa for writing in. I was starting to get worried about my tiny charges. Yes they somehow dug themselves into the gravel and basically stay put ever so slightly moving. I can see some of the 10 because they buried themselves next to the edge of the tank. I think I'm starting to see some of my crushed coral that I mixed in with the gravel turn brown. About how much longer till I might see green algae? Tank has been up about 3ish weeks.

[Mustafa]

No idea how much longer. It all depends on the tank. Usually you'll get a brown algae bloom before any green algae appear.

[sea15823]

I'm trying to remain positive about the snails I've got but I honestly don't see them moving from their dug in positions. I add about 2 drops of Prime but is not making a difference. Trying to be as hands off as possible. Mustafa, help!?

[Mustafa]

For now I'd just literally "forget" about the snails. Just sit back and relax. At some point you'll have algae growing and that's when your tank is ready for shrimp...regardless of how many snails you see right now.