The Nassarius snail is an easily-maintained marine (saltwater) species. The care ranges they require are minimal – not solely will they supply their very own meals on most events however they will additionally assist to maintain your tank clear by feasting on ugly detritus.
Nassarius snails will slowly comb by means of the underside of your aquarium, scavenging on uneaten fish meals, waste supplies and even lifeless organisms which have discovered their strategy to the underside of your saltwater aquarium.
Whereas these snails aren’t lively sufficient to maintain you entertained always, they’re due to this fact fairly useful within the aquarium’s ecosystem.
Now that you understand all the advantages of getting Nassarius snails in your fish tank, let’s speak about all of the issues that you must know to deal with these little organisms!
Nassarius Snail Habitat
Nassarius snails may be discovered within the wild, however these specimens typically don’t fare effectively in a closed aquarium setting.
To recover from this hurdle, it’s typically most secure to pick Nassarius snails which were bred in captivity. As you may be placing them in your individual aquarium that can simulate related circumstances to what they’re used to, that means that minimal adjustment by your snails will probably be required.
Tank Measurement
Nassarius snails solely attain a most shell dimension of round ¾ inch, that means that they are often accommodated in virtually any dimension of marine tank – together with the tiny little nano tanks which have turn into widespread in recent times.
The one consideration to make is what number of snails may be safely accommodated in your tank. Right here most consultants advocate a stocking ratio of roughly one or two snails for each gallon of water.
Water Temperature
The Nassarius snail is a saltwater organism. It wants secure temperatures to outlive in a captive setting. The perfect temperature for this number of snails is something between 72°F and 80°F (which interprets into 22°C and 27°C). That is fairly a variety of temperatures when in comparison with different parts of saltwater aquariums, reminiscent of corals. That is useful, as it will possibly make them fairly simple to look after in captivity, as they will thrive in a wide range of circumstances.
Water Composition
Apart from temperature, there are a variety of things that affect the composition of your aquarium’s water. Some key factors to bear in mind are the pH ranges and the precise gravity. Relating to pH, the preferable vary for Nassarius snails is roughly 8.3 or 8.4. The precise gravity ought to be between 1.023 and 1.025.
Lastly, as with most invertebrates, Nassarius snails can’t survive in water with excessive nitrate ranges. The degrees ought to stay lower than 20 ppm for these snails to thrive.
Gear and Crops
Nassarius snails have very restricted necessities. In fact, you’ll want to put in a superb high quality filtration system in order that the water stays clear always.
One necessary requirement is an efficient quantity of sand on the backside of the fish tank. That is necessary as Nassarius snails spend most of their time buried into the sand, scavenging for any uneaten meals gadgets, decomposing components of residing organisms and so forth. Apart from this, you possibly can just about add no matter fits your fancy. It may be decorative rocks, driftwood, aquarium crops and so forth.
Habits of Nassarius Snails
Nassarius snails are very peaceable. They don’t present many indicators of aggression at any level of their lives. Having stated that, there have been cases of some of those snails getting collectively and trying to trigger hurt to a different snail or small creature.
Guarantee that there’s a large enough sand mattress and you’ll solely see the Nassarius snails in your aquarium when it’s time for them to have a meal.
Integration into the Tank
Nassarius snails could also be simple to look after however you shouldn’t simply drop them into your tank and neglect about them. There’s a particular acclimatization process to be adopted that can assist to combine these little creatures into your aquarium.
As within the case with most invertebrates, it’s best to think about using the sluggish drip technique to do that. Utilizing a separate bucket and a siphon drip line, you’ll slowly get the snails used to the water within the aquarium, earlier than transferring them to your important tank.
Finest Tank Mates
As snails usually are not aggressive by nature, they will work effectively with all different peaceable co-inhabitants of your aquarium. Nassarius snails will even survive residing with many extra aggressive species, as long as they aren’t recognized snail eaters.
The one restriction right here is that they need to all be creatures of the ocean or oceans. The Nassarius snail is a saltwater organism and it have to be saved in circumstances simulating its marine ecosystem. You can not add freshwater fish to such aquariums or place Nassarius snails into freshwater aquariums .
Fish That Don’t Work Properly
As snails are just about defenseless, you don’t need to put them in conditions the place they could have to defend themselves. There are a variety of species that take pleasure in consuming snails. In different phrases if in case you have snails and are considering over which fish to purchase, keep away from any of those snail eaters.
Along with these, crabs don’t are inclined to work effectively with snails, typically attacking and even killing them.
Feeding Nassarius Snails
The Nassarius snail is basically a scavenger. When you add these organisms to a well-established aquarium, you might not have to even feed the snails, as they’ll undergo the sand mattress and eat any detritus that they discover.
They eat leftover meals, waste, in addition to stays from dying or lifeless organisms.
Nevertheless, if that meals isn’t sufficient, you possibly can complement their food plan with issues like algae wafers, fish meals pellets or frozen brine shrimp. They’re notably biased in direction of meat and may eat mussels, clam, scallops and so forth.
Breeding
Whereas snails are infamous for multiplying in quantity, the Nassarius snail isn’t very simple to breed.
Whereas these snails lay eggs routinely, the potential of them maturing may be very low. There may be many causes behind this, like different fish within the tank, eggs getting buried within the sand mattress and so forth.
The method isn’t inconceivable however as these snails can be found with skilled breeders for a really low price, all the train could not make an excessive amount of sense.
Ultimate Ideas
Nassarius snails are an attention-grabbing organism so as to add to your saltwater aquarium. Whereas they won’t have all the colour and shine that different tank inhabitants provide, they’re none-the-less attention-grabbing to observe. In fact, they will additionally reduce down in your tank upkeep, performing as an natural “cleanup crew”.
What’s to not love?
Picture by SERC Pictures 
