Missing snails

Question
Hi Bill, You recently helped me with my APTASIA problem. I sent you the pic of one of the big ones in my tank and you suggested maybe getting some peppermint shrimp. Well to my amaze the shrimp have eaten even the large APTASIA and I am APTASIA free. My question now is, do peppermint shrimp eat snails? I had 3 reg spiral snails now for 8 months, now I can only see 2 at any time. I would hate to loose my snails, as they have been the best cleaning crew I've had. I have read mixed reviews on this, but most I have read are not in the snails favor, what are your thoughts?
Thanks
Dave


Answer
Hello Dave,

Glad to hear the pep shrimp did hte trick...

Shrimp and crabs and other scavenger type critters always get the bad rap, cuase people see them on top of the dead creature, chowing down...

BUT, this does not mean they killed the critter... IF the snails were stresssed or dieing, then the shrimp might have helped it along, by way of antagonizing it, and not letting it rest, but, I am sure the shrimp did not cause the death of snails or other fish...
Clean up crews go through a constant 'cycle'.

The population will go up and down as the food goes up and down, and unfortunately they become thier own food source when they die... so when they die, they cause an increase in population, again.

I would be prepared to replensih the clean up crew each year...

Reefcleaners.org had a special for $5 shipping, recently. I am not sure if they are still running that special..

I love them, btw, but if you get snails, they are SMALL, bu you will get a ton of them, probably double what you order...

John Maloney is a great guy, and if you contact him he will probably tell you how to register for 10% savings, (if i recall correctly)

Good luck


bill