Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean
Natural Environment: Inhabits giant clamshells where it feeds on the clam tissue.
Aquarium Suitability: Detrimental species to Tridacna clams!
To repeat, this small white, one eighth of an inch (2 mm) cone-shaped snail feed upon Tridacna clams. It can multiply quickly at a very small size, and in large numbers can be a serious threat to any clams in the aquarium.
Typically, they can be found along the clams upper edges where the mantle overhangs, especially during nighttime feeding time frames. During the daytime, they may be either located at the foot area, or tucked away along the ridges on the shell.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Pyramidellacea
Family: Pyramidellidae
Genus: Pyramidellidae
FYI: The Sixline Wrasse, Pseudocheilinus hexataenia , Fourline Wrasse P. tetrataenia, Christmas Wrasse Halichoeres ornatissimus, and Leopard Wrasse Macropharyngodon meleagris, may eat them.
Recommend clam sides be cleaned with a toothbrush or fingernail brush prior to being placed in the aquarium.
Have taken clams that were severely infested out of the aquarium and brushed their sides while holding them in a separate container of seawater. Then placed them in a small dish of sand until its 100% free of this pest before placing it on and firm substrate where it will attach itself and be difficult to remove if necessary! This may take several weeks to accomplish.
Have found the Xmas Wrasse best at eliminating these pest snails, and also any other small snails in the aquarium (good or bad).
