Post by tsrebel on Mar 12, 2013 17:43:38 GMT
I've kept freshwater aquariums for some years, mostly snails only. I had some luck with blue apple snails (they bred) before they died off of unknown reason.
Most of the snail species in the world does not live on earth nor in freshwater - they live in the sea. I've heard that keeping saltwater aquariums are much harder than freshwater, more expensive and require more equipment. I've found that to be questionable thruths.
I keep my marine snails in a 30L aquarium designed for freshwater. I have a pump, no skimmer, no additives, and I use tap water (in Norway it is pretty clean). I seldom test the water and I change 4L maybe once a month. For lighting I used regular flourescent lamps for almost a year and have now upgraded some.
This does not make good conditions for other animals (like corals or fish), but all right for some snails. My point is that it is possible to keep a marine tank low-tech, low-cost, low effort. Here are some of them:
This is the mouth of a Littorina littorea, a snail I found on the shore. It helps clean the front.
These are some kind of Nassarius. They stay buried in the sand until they smell food.
Front Mitra sp., behind is a Strombus alatus and on the side; my Babylonia sp. - the giant of my little sea pond.
Another of my Babylonia sp. - here on his way up above the water level (he likes to do that and then let go to float dow again, I don't know why). Absolutely one of my favorites!
The Strombus alatus again. Unlike most snails, this family of snails have rather large eyes. They also have their mouth on the tip of their trunk. Really funny animals!
These are Scutus antipodes. They are called elephant snails, but I think they look like black angels. They may look like slugs, but they do have a small shell. I saw the term snug being used for such semi-slugs.
This is what they look like above water. Like black bumps. This specie is the only one that have reproduced with some success in my tank. A very good first marine snail!
This is their offspring
This is how I mostly see then; from the under side.
I hope this will be an inspiration for more snail enthusiasts to start marine tanks And if you are a more organized person or with more money, you could throw yourself into the ocean of other soft bodied creatures living in the sea.
Most of the snail species in the world does not live on earth nor in freshwater - they live in the sea. I've heard that keeping saltwater aquariums are much harder than freshwater, more expensive and require more equipment. I've found that to be questionable thruths.
I keep my marine snails in a 30L aquarium designed for freshwater. I have a pump, no skimmer, no additives, and I use tap water (in Norway it is pretty clean). I seldom test the water and I change 4L maybe once a month. For lighting I used regular flourescent lamps for almost a year and have now upgraded some.
This does not make good conditions for other animals (like corals or fish), but all right for some snails. My point is that it is possible to keep a marine tank low-tech, low-cost, low effort. Here are some of them:
This is the mouth of a Littorina littorea, a snail I found on the shore. It helps clean the front.
These are some kind of Nassarius. They stay buried in the sand until they smell food.
Front Mitra sp., behind is a Strombus alatus and on the side; my Babylonia sp. - the giant of my little sea pond.
Another of my Babylonia sp. - here on his way up above the water level (he likes to do that and then let go to float dow again, I don't know why). Absolutely one of my favorites!
The Strombus alatus again. Unlike most snails, this family of snails have rather large eyes. They also have their mouth on the tip of their trunk. Really funny animals!
These are Scutus antipodes. They are called elephant snails, but I think they look like black angels. They may look like slugs, but they do have a small shell. I saw the term snug being used for such semi-slugs.
This is what they look like above water. Like black bumps. This specie is the only one that have reproduced with some success in my tank. A very good first marine snail!
This is their offspring
This is how I mostly see then; from the under side.I hope this will be an inspiration for more snail enthusiasts to start marine tanks
And if you are a more organized person or with more money, you could throw yourself into the ocean of other soft bodied creatures living in the sea.
