Cerith ? Bumble bee Snails ?

[Modo]

What exactly does the Cerith guys eat? Are these a scavenger like the Nassarius?

What about the "Bumble Bee" snail that is for sale everywhere? What do these guys clean up detritus...algea?
http://www.ffexpress.com/inverts/snails/bumblebee.jpg

 

[2poor2reef]

I don't know anything about the bumble bees but the ceriths that I have kept are some of my favorite snails. They eat algae and diatoms but they seem to have a somewhat larger menu than a typical algae eating snail. I have seen them eat detritus and the yeat from/bury in the sand bed as well as work the glass and rock. They are particularly helpful in cleaning the glass at, and just below, the sand line. Very good snails to have in a reef tank or refugium with a sand bed.

[ April 10, 2002: Message edited by: 2poor2reef ]</p>

 

[DEADFISH1]

I have one, I think I still have one, I haven't seen him for a week or so come to think of it, I've had him for a couple of months now, he just went around eating detritus & algae, never harmed a thing, as far as their life span, I'm not sure.

 

[Modo]

Thanks for the info on the Cerithes guys.

Well, I answered my own question about the "Bumble Bee" snail. Sounds like bad egg for anyone with a DSB.

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75&highlight=Engina+mendicaria

 

[DEADFISH1]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Modo:
<strong>Thanks for the info on the Cerithes guys.

Well, I answered my own question about the "Bumble Bee" snail. Sounds like bad egg for anyone with a DSB.

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75&highlight=Eng ina+mendicaria</strong><hr></blockquote>

well I have to admit that I never actually saw it chew on algae.

maybe he was just looking for pods, I only have 1 so I'm not too worried.

 

[HARRISON]

I kinda like the bumble bee snails. IMO they can get in the small spaces that the bigger snails can't. I have also had about 6 bumble bee snails for over two years. The turbos don't seem to last as long. Anyway, I would suggest a few. I will probably get more...

 

[Jeff Hood]

I have about 30 bumble bee snails in my 580 new reef and the sand bed in the main tank is exploding with life. Lots of worms appearing, small snails everywhere, tons of pods of all types. Too many to count. I never see the bumble bee snails in or on the sand bed or tank walls at all. They are always on the rock and in the small crevises. I have seen pods crawl all over them and they don't seem to react to them. Can't tell what they are eating but I doub't they are impacting my sand bed at all since they are never in it. They seem to help keep the rock clean of detritus so far.

I am keeping an eye on them.

Jeff