Babies?!?

[rupertswife]

We have recently noticed tiny, tiny snails in our tank. Both Nassarius (the ones that burrow in the sand) and the smaller snails (not turbos) that clean the glass and the rock. We KNOW the ones we put in the tank when we bought our 'cleaning crew' were much larger than these......is it possible that they are breeding?

I know snail multiply at alarming rates in our fresh water tanks, but I thought salt snails were different.....

[Aquatic Specialists]

It is not uncommon for snails to multiply in your tank. I have all kinds nerite, cerith, and nassarius multiply on a fairly regular basis. Keeping them out of your pump is another trick though.

[rayviv]

Yes, it is not only possible but probable. So thats a good thing. Quite a few people have baby snails rite now.

[Reefd Up]

I would be willing to bet that you're looking at Collonista snails.  They look like baby turbos, but in fact, they're just smaller snails.  They reproduce well, stay small (about 1/4"), are good grazers, and tolerate reef conditions well.  They are usually hitchhikers...very very common ones since the babies are usually the size of a pinhead when they hitchhike.

But yeah, a lot of snails reproduce well in captivity.  I've had ceriths and collonistas mostly reproduce.

Here's a link about Collonistas (and other snails)...most people assume they're just "baby turbo snails"
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php

[lazylivin]

Here is some pictures of Collonista Snails.

[TechGuy]

Here is some pictures of Collonista Snails.

I have these by the thousands. All my Snails have bred in my tank, sadly most end up in my sump lost in the macro algae.

[Reefd Up]

I have these by the thousands. All my Snails have bred in my tank, sadly most end up in my sump lost in the macro algae.

Quite normal to have a lot.  I love that hermit crabs like their shells...and kill them for shells instead of my more expensive & less rapidly reproducing snails! 

[rupertswife]

Sweet! The nassarius are our favorite. The two we've seen are all white. The others don't look like the pictures, but we know they are not turbos.

Thanks for the confirmation!

[Reefd Up]

The collonistas when very tiny are white.  They start to develop color around the 1/4" size.