Could This Be My Problem

[mark7616]

I get up at around 4am for work so thought I would come and have a quick look in the tank and see if I could spy anything dodgy looking. Well to my suprise I saw all these snails all over the place. When these lights are on they dissapear hence I only just found out that I have them. What type are they and are these my problem if so what on earth can I do.

Obviously I took these pics while everything was asleep and the lights were off.

 

[chrissaysyes]

anyway you could find a pic similar to those snails or get a better pic?

 

[mark7616]

TBH mate they are so small they just look white.

 

[Lynden]

Yup, that'll be your problem. They are difficult to eradicate, and as such I can't really recommend a single way.

 

[mark7616]

Is it only the Polyps they eat as my gonipora isnt looking good.

 

[Lynden]

Not too sure about that.

 

[1entra]

Next time you see them you should net a couple out and take e pic or two of them close up if possible and then post on here so we can help I.D them. They defo look like plague numbers and so probably do need something doing about them. I'm sure once they are I.D'd we can find some sort of predator (fish or other) that you could put in your tank that might make a feast of them!

Also whilst trying to net a couple try to get the biggest you can see or find, this way you can get a rough guess at how big they can grow!

Until a predator can be founnd to eat them then the only suggestion I can make is for you to stay up late everynight after lights go off and try and manually remove as many as you can. This may be a pain in the backside and may take awhile but it should help eradecate your problem without having an ill effect on anything else in the tank!

 

[chrissaysyes]

Agreed, manual removal...maybe rent a hungry puffer or trigger?

 

[1entra]

Some wrasses are known to eat snails but cant remember which ones! However alot of predatory fish will also nip at your corals and may even eat the fully!

 

[SkiFletch]

Is it only the Polyps they eat as my gonipora isnt looking good.

Heh, usually these type of predators are very specific in their diets. Unfortunately, goniopora tend to do poorly in the home aquarium in the presence or absence of predators, so you can't really conclusively say that the snails are affecting the goni. 90% of the time they don't live anyways

 

[Lynden]

The problem with buying a predator is that it is probably going to be diurnal, whereas the snails are nocturnal. They may hunt for some food, but the best solution is either manual removal or to starve the poor bastards.

 

[1entra]

the best solution is either manual removal or to starve the poor bastards

Yep I agree although I would try the manual removal first as trying to starve them would mean removing all your corals etc to a different tank so them they would have nothing to feed on and hopefully starve.

 

[chrissaysyes]

A hungry trigger would dig for the snails during the day, wouldnt it?

 

[mark7616]

As you can appriciate manual removal is not possible.

 

[chrissaysyes]

Not even with a siphon?