Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

I recently ordered a clean up crew off of ebay. I recieved 50 nasserius vibrex, 50 nassarius obsaleta, and 50 hermits for $23.50 + shipping. I thought this was a great deal at the time. It now looks like the obsaletas are multiplying all over my tank. They leave these white spots surrounded by a clear jelly all over the tank. I am afraid that they are multiplying out of control. I do not know for sure that these "white spots" are baby snails but I am afraid that by the time I know for sure (there are at least 100 of the spots by now) they will have over run my tank. does anyone have any info on these snails? I know that this may sound like a stupid newbie question but does anyone know what baby snails look like? Please help a newbie.

Egg sacks ?

This is a good thing. They will eventually level off based on how many your system can support. Now it could possibly support more then you want to see in the tank so that might be the only down side. All of my snails have stopped breeding almost a year ago. I might have to get a few off of you at some point.

ditto if you ever decide to toss a chunk of them.

Same here....if you have more than you want I'll take some! Lord knows I need some.

Who did you get them from on ebay?

Fellow Fairhopeian would like to know also. Would be interested in some.

You nor anyone else actually wants Ilyanassa obsoleta. It is a temperate water species, so the spawning is probably a response to raised temp. They are not a good snail at all. They feed on the beneficial organisms that keep sand beds healthy (i.e. bristleworms, copepods, etc) and are generally said to carry a parasitic flatworm (about 50% of adult individuals) that is transferrable to humans. Nassarius vibex is somewhat questionable. They do not really eat detritus, but are good scavengers and eat any leftover food. So unless you feed your tank a lot, then they may not be the best option. The population will decline until food resources match. They *may* also eat beneficial organisms, but the jury is still out on them. If anything, they do move the sand around a bit and eat leftovers, I just wouldn't have that many of them.

thanks for the info