Snails that aren't reef safe

[johnmaloney]

Okay I get it, I am a dork. I am fascinated with snails, and love everything gastropod. Since I setup the custom cleaner crew inquiry form I have been shocked by how many people got snails that simply aren't reef safe. There are literally thousand of different species of snails that are predatory, or are not reef safe. To help people out I am starting a list of snails that I have seen being sold in the hobby that are not reef safe. Here is the list so far, it will growing over time:

1. Marginella Snails - Beautiful yes, but they will eat snails even larger than them, and other bivavles. Yes they do scavenge, but this is not all they do. I have some anyway in a tank of mine, but they shouldn't be bought as a member of a clean up crew.
2. Bumble Bee Snails- Again an attractive snail. They will scavenge, but they also eat microfauna, (the little critters that make your live rock or sand "live). Best not to get them.
3. The Flamingo Tongue- quite possible the best looking snail in the ocean. (Except for maybe the predatory moon snail). Unfortunately it only eats gorgonians. If you have a lot of gorgonians, and you don't mind if they are eaten, maybe you can keep these. Just make sure you have a good source for their expensive food.
4. Bubble Snails- some hobbyist collect these off the Atlantic thinking they are small stomatellas. They eat snails, and are not reef safe. Before you catch something for your tank, get a field guide. If you are not sure the IDs match up, get a better guide. There are many look alikes out there be careful.
5. Illyanassa Obsoleta- these whelks will eat microfauna, small snails and are not reef safe. They also do better in colder ranges, and do not live in the tropics, and reefs generally mimic the tropics. They DO NOT eat algae. Instead, go with their smaller cousin the nassarius vibex that also scavenges without the negative side effects. Nassarius Vibex snails do not eat algae either.
6. Nudibranchs in General- most are not suited for the aquarium- wrong temperature, wrong food etc... Most will destroy your aquarium if they die. Only experts should have nudis, the rest of you stay away for now. Sea Hares are not nudibranchs. They can be kept succesfully, watch out for inkings which require a STRONG carbon filter. An advanced aquarist can handle these guys. The spotted sea hare gets BIG, make sure you can buy macro algae for them. When they die they can foul up a tank very quickly. They should be kept at a lower temperature than found in most of our tanks. I keep mine in a tank that is around 70-72 degrees.

Please feel free to post here about your experiences.
That is it for now, stay tuned for updates...