Snails for $0.50

[bigfalcon36]

Everyone-

I dont know if you saw this thread for snails. Its a good deal, cheaper than most online providers!

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=552864

Travis

[redpyro]

would rather have non shipped .55 cent snails

[bigfalcon36]

ha good point, but the problem is we have to buy a lot from the wierdo at the store..she has no minimum purchase.

[redpyro]

how much was the wierdos minimum to get a deal?

[bigfalcon36]

he didnt say, he tried to get me to commit to 200. I told him forget it. I like how we have a code name for him. ha...i'm actually laughing about it

[redpyro]

damn wierdos

[bigfalcon36]

yeah...speeaking of that check out the pics i just posted in nonreef related thing with people's pets

[bigfalcon36]

lets go to the Oregon district and write weido on the glass of his shop in shoe polish and then take pictures and post it...that would be classic!

[Slicktrax]

i got an email from phishy business. he said we could get an appointment to come over and buy stuff and offered saturday april 2. i cant make it that day, but you all may want to. all he asks is that if you set an appointment use it for picking up or buying stuff, not just to browse. i would love to go visit his place, but wont be able to make a trip until may.

[ohioreef]

I am going to be in Columbus that day, but I'll be tied up at a cheerleading comp.

[bigfalcon36]

Gary has Spartan Spirit :D






j/k

[ohioreef]

I've got spirit, yes I do, I've got spirit, how 'bout you..........

[scottfarcuz]

Kinda a long drive for you guys but MDM aquatic in Parma sells inverts really cheap. I believe nassarius are .39 each.

www.mdmaquatic.com

[Micki]

Hey Gary Hope you win!!! :D


I won't be able to go on that day either. UGH!

[bigfalcon36]

Guys I am going to buy some of those snails from the person on the link on my first post above. If anybody wants to gets some with me let me know and I'll have them shipped with mine to save some money. I think I am grabbing 20 or 25 of them. PM if you want any and I'll let you know how much with shipping and all. By the way shipping prices are going to be really, really low through Fed-Ex. Just PM if interested.

Travis

[Micki]

Hey Travis, wht kind of snails are they?

[bigfalcon36]

They are nass. obseleta, they eat algea, fish crap, left over food... like to sift sand too. well, from what she says they do :D

[Micki]

Hmmm, I've never heard of those.

[bigfalcon36]

I just did a search on the internet, they are legit and she has some pictures on the post. See, this is the only thing I'm weary about is that they aren't for sale on any of the popular fish websites. I may end up just going to weirdo's place if I ever get an afternoon off of the job. He's selling them for $0.55...I just dont feel like dealing with him... :D

[scottfarcuz]

I belive they are normally just called nassarius.

[Micki]

I assumed that they were a nassarius snail, but the obseleta threw me.

[redpyro]

i'm buying 40 i think

[bigfalcon36]

Red - you want them through this chick or from weirdo?

[redpyro]

still considering but probably get them from the chick, i dont want to drive down to the weirdo shop just for some snails and have to listen to him jibber jabber...im not that deserate for snails yet

[bigfalcon36]

good point well you want to go in with me?

[redpyro]

i pmed him to see how many he has left, he said 200 but looks like he has sold more than that

[Micki]

Travis, did you say if the *weirdo* has fighting conch snails?

[bigfalcon36]

I'm thinking of just getting 20 or 25, is that enough for a grungy a$$ 75G

[redpyro]

for now probably, i need some serious sand sifting so i am thinking 40 in my 55 would be great and maybe 10 of those in my 20gallon

[bigfalcon36]

no he's has none...would have to order them and with Fed ex the way it is, If we can get a group order together for an online place, just get it from online they're cheaper and prolly better quality.

[redpyro]

Hey Carson - are you in jail?

how much are fighting conches at gerbers?

[bigfalcon36]

I'll PM her and see how many she has left. She said she had 500, but who knows now. Because you have me thinking I may want more I may get 40 also.

[Micki]

I would be up for that. I would be willing to go in with you guys on the nass snails as well. I would think maybe 20 for me? I have some but I don't remember how many.

[bigfalcon36]

Yeah I havent seen him on here for like 2 weeks...prolly locked down with Martha Stewart

[redpyro]

he was logged in this morning i saw his ID at the top but he didnt post anything, must not have that capability from cell #2

but of course he said he was dating one of his accident victims so maybe he is busy with that.

[Slicktrax]

i did a quick search for the obsoleta, it appears that they are a carnivorous type snail. they may not help much with an algae problem. they will burrow in the sand bed though.

Wet Web Media (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snailselfaqs.htm)

[bigfalcon36]

BUSY...I wish I was "busy" I'm in lock down right now at work...this blows

[Micki]

carnivorous, but reef safe correct???

By the way, just called gerbers, they have 7 fighting left. They are $9.something each, or 3 for $25.00.

[bigfalcon36]

Carson should give us the 5 finger discount...you know he hooks himself up.

[Slicktrax]

reef safe from what i can tell, just not the best algae cleaners. they are good at stirring the sand bed

[redpyro]

i dont have any algea to be eatten, i just need sand sifting which is why i was looking at conches.

[bigfalcon36]

I need some glass cleaners..any suggestions?

[Micki]

windex.. :D

[redpyro]

magfloat!

mexican turbos if you want snails to clean but nothing beats the magfloat

[Micki]

I need a new magfloat. Know of any good prices?

[redpyro]

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_searchitem.asp

[Micki]

Matt do they have free shipping?

[bigfalcon36]

Micki I have an extra...

[ohioreef]

They obsoleta's are not actually nassarious. They are Illynasa obsoleta or something like that. They are generally found of the eastern coast of the US. I didn't find that out until after I had gotten mine.

On a side note, as far as I know, mine haven't been carnivorous. Mine do go up on the glass, but not on the rock.

[Micki]

Gary are they still living ok? Do they stir the sand at all?

[ohioreef]

I'm down to around 20 from 50 or so originally. I'm not sure if they are eating each other or if they are just dying off.

I read that they are a temperate species and don't like warmer tanks.

[redpyro]

uh oh my tank is 80 or 81

[bigfalcon36]

yeah mine too. DEATH TO ALL!

[redpyro]

maybe i will have to cave and go buy some ceriths someplace

[bigfalcon36]

Yeah these things are cheap online, but I dont want to waste my money. I might email pet solutions and see if they'll just take the my order over to Jacks for me to pick up, theres no reason to overnight something thats 20 minutes away.

[Micki]

Mine too! Maybe these aren't such a good idea???

[bigfalcon36]

Micki you need to call pet solutions and get your way, you seem to be good at that. Do the I DONT WANT TO PAY SHIPPING thing. Use your CSI Las Vegas techniques.

[Micki]

LOL. I'll see what I can do. I'm going to call them first thing Monday morning!

[bigfalcon36]

Thata girl....Lady....chick....whatever you prefer

[ohioreef]

FYI, PetSolutions ships their live animals from California, not Beavercreek.

Let me know what you find out Micki, I might be interested in some ceriths also.

[Micki]

Ok I'll let you all know on Monday! :D

[ohioreef]

I will do some searching at work tonight and try to find the article on the obsoleta snails and post it.

[ohioreef]

Dr Ron comment about obsoleta: [/]Illynassa obsoleta[/i], a temperate mudsnail sold occasionally in the reef hobby. They are generally scavengers, but will prey on some slow moving animals.


Some links:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=545337&highlight=obsoleta

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-03/rs/index.htm (good article about detritus eaters. From this, it looks like ceriths are the way to go.)

[ohioreef]

Some more comments from Dr Ron:

I would avoid purchasing the Ilyanassa. Being temperate animals they do not do well at normal reef temperatures (they prefer a high end of around 60 deg. F), although they will tolerate reef temperatures for a while. At such temperatures they have an acclerated metabolism due to the temperature increase above their normal range, and this kills them prematurely.

Additionally, they are scavenger/predators and will attack and eat some small animals as well being (pretty good) scavengers. True Nassarius don't attack any healthy animals.

As you have the animals already, they will probably be fine to add to your system. I doubt they will do major harm. However, they will not be as good a scavenger as the true Nassarius, and they will not live as long either.


For a good discussion, read this page. (http://www.reefland.com/forum/showthread.php?p=83364)

Be sure to read all the way down, there is some really good discussion about the obsoleta snails.

[Micki]

Thanks Gary! Sounds like they are ok but don't live long. I guess I owuld rather look at something for the long haul.

[ohioreef]

From my reading, I want to get some ceriths, astraeas and a fighting conch.

[bigfalcon36]

prolly could of got a conch from Gerber's if Micki wouldnt be holding out on all of us. :D

[Micki]

:D

[atreis]

IMO, if you got a cerith or two on your live rock, you won't need anymore snails. My ceriths have bred like crazy. I doubt I'll ever need to buy more snails.