'Catfighting' nassarius snails

PondPwr · 01-27-2007, 11:40 PM

I was facinated this evening to watch my two nassarius snails (Moses & Joseph) rise out of the sand to fight over an apparently dead scarlet crab. They took turns 'biting' each other, writhing in 'pain', then turning to attack. While one was hunting for the crab after being bitten off, the other would be chowing down on the crab.

Who says these things are algea eaters....carnivores all the way! I saw them chase a small snail all the way around the acrylica sides of the tank the other day, nipping each other the whole way.

Do you suppose I ought to be putting something in the tank to actually feed them?

aquaman3680 · 01-27-2007, 11:42 PM

Actually most nassarius snails arent algae eaters at all. You could be feeding them some type of other food source. They will eat just about any fish food or fish poop. Great scavengers

Matt

PhilOlsen · 01-27-2007, 11:46 PM

Nassarius snails are meat eaters, you can put in some mysis shrimp to feed them. I have seen mine fight from time to time but generally they are pretty passive.

01-27-2007, 11:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
PondPwr Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 6 View Gallery Karma Komment	'Catfighting' nassarius snails I was facinated this evening to watch my two nassarius snails (Moses & Joseph) rise out of the sand to fight over an apparently dead scarlet crab. They took turns 'biting' each other, writhing in 'pain', then turning to attack. While one was hunting for the crab after being bitten off, the other would be chowing down on the crab. Who says these things are algea eaters....carnivores all the way! I saw them chase a small snail all the way around the acrylica sides of the tank the other day, nipping each other the whole way. Do you suppose I ought to be putting something in the tank to actually feed them? __________________ -Bill 14 Gallon Bio-Cube 1 Euphylia 1 Pulsing Xenia 1 Red Open Brain 2 Trumpets 1 Rhodactus 2 Ricordia Metalic Green Zoanthid 2 Scarlet Crabs,1 Blue Leg Crab 1 Cerith, 2 Turbo, 2 Nausarius Snails Numerous hitchhicking snails, serpent stars, etc.

01-27-2007, 11:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
aquaman3680 Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,155 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: 'Catfighting' nassarius snails Actually most nassarius snails arent algae eaters at all. You could be feeding them some type of other food source. They will eat just about any fish food or fish poop. Great scavengers Matt __________________ Check it out! The 90 gallon Road Trip

01-27-2007, 11:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 'Catfighting' nassarius snails Nassarius snails are meat eaters, you can put in some mysis shrimp to feed them. I have seen mine fight from time to time but generally they are pretty passive.

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