Lifecycle of Pyramid Snails

[Jimm]

Does anyone know how long they can live in a tank with no food supply? Here's what's going on. I just started up my 24 and put the live rock in. Yesterday I found three little white snails the size of a small grain of rice. Looks just like the pictures of pyramid snails that you see. I pulled the three out that I saw. Sorry too tiny for my cruddy camera to get a good picture of. Anyway I want to eventually put some clams in this tank and I want to make sure it's predator free. So I'm wondering if they will die off with no food supply eventually or if there's something else I might do? I'm planning on putting a six-line wrasse in there as soon as it's settled in enough.

I also had Cerith snails in the holding tank with the live rock and these might be baby Ceriths. I'm not sure.

I'm already looking on the Clams Direct Forum. Haven't found anything like this yet.

[fat walrus]

don't know about life cycle, but i have noticed my rainfordi gobies grooming my clams, my six-line wrasse just sits around waiting for feeding time.

[Jimm]

Here is what Knop Says:

1. Manually remove the snails at night. That is the time that the snails are most active. Search the shells mantle area, the rest of the shell, and the substrate.
2. Use predation like a small wrasse. Coris gaimard seems to be perfectly suited for this purpose.
3. Interrupt the reproductive cycle of the snails with the help of a powerful skimmer in connection with UV disinfection.

From Giant Clams: A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tridacnid Clams.

[JustDavidP]

Take a look here:

http://www.reefland.com/rho/2006/05/...lid_snails.php

You may not have pyramidellids at all.

Dave

[Jimm]

Awesome link Dave, Thanks! Time to get out the magnifying glass.

[fat walrus]

Jimm, coris gaimad will eat plenty of other things and will not stay small too long

[Jimm]

...and is a little too big for a 24 gallon tank. A six-line is borderline.