Ongoing pyramid snail battle

[jaded]

scooter blennys as a natural pyramid snail preditor???

this post has more info (http://aquariumpros.ca/forums/printthread.php?t=12670&pp=40)

[Reef69]

I doubt it..they feed mainly on copepods and amphipods, just like mandarins..their mouths are not designed to eat snails...

[reefer]

6 line wrasse might be a good idea......

[jaded]

that post sure seems to indicate a bunch of success with the scooter... I have both a yellow coris wrasse and a 6 line but they dont make a dent... its all up to me

[bigdscobra]

Any pics on what a pyramid snail looks like??? :unsure

[::pete::]

http://www.rshimek.com/images/Scott%20Hogan2.jpg

[cpreefguy]

Those things are truely a nuissance. They can become an infestation in a hurry. The best thing that you can do is take them off by hand and keep a watchful eye for them. Also, freshwater dip your clam to kill any that have already bored into the shell. Not sure if you know, but these snails bore into the shell of the clam and lay their eggs. From that point, the parasitic larvae feed on the clam's insides.
I have had minimal success with the Yellow Coris or 6-Line, just gotta do it the old fasion way.
Git 'Er Done!!!

[jaded]

They havent found my clam yet... but I can find them on my astrea snails fairly easily. Since I have approx. 100 astreas its tough to clear them off by hand, but I'm trying. I've definately seen a drop in numbers since I started harvesting but I came across that thread and thought it was very interesting. Those guys in Canada are apparently having success treating this problem with scooters... maybe its the snow "aye"

[Tim Marvin]

Jim Norris used to pull out all the clams every so often and inspect them as well as clean off the shells and feed them. I beleive he did this a couple times per month, and never had a problem with the snails. I use a sixline wrasse and maybe I just haven't had any, but there are no P.snails in my tank.

[Alamo]

I have some very very tiny snails that only come out at night in my tank, and i dont have any clams... these the same critters? The shell is shapped like that, milky white, and nocturnal.

[Jimnorris]

Tim,
You are right! I used to remove all my clams once aweek for snail inspection and cleaning. That is how Scar happened. The BEST helped I ever found is a China wrasse. I had two of these in my 240 and they helped control the snails. And I do say controlled only! The pyramind snails will also attach to your other snails. These other snails need to be removed and cleaned!
Jim

[jaded]

I see your point Joshua... I guess its all about the manual extraction since my 6line and yellow corris are SO VERY FAT from the feedings I give to the Morish Idol and others. Oh well, I didn't get into this hobby because it was easy

Tim, I am currently trying to get the clam to attach to a manageable sized piece of LR since he attaches very quickly to the rockwork. I've been removing him every few days or so to check for the snails but so far haven't found any, only on the astrea's

Alamo, could be... get a picture