Given its aliases as “Hawaiian Strombus” and “Strombus maculatus,” the Collumbellid euplica snail may not have its nomenclature, especially to the species level, all settled. But that doesn’t change how awesome of a snail it is. As shown below, they reproduce faster than rabbits (or for that matter, faster than my Stomatella hitchhiker snails!) They stay small, graze over rocks, and fit into the smallest nooks and crannies. As the algal population waxes and wanes, so, too, does their population for a harmonized tank. Back when Collumbellid snails were covering my tank, I decided to join the Marine Breeding Initiative. This was my journal entry documenting the breeding. Some of it may be a bit repetitive, but it was required for the breeding documentation.
General Information:
General Species: Columbellid euplica
Social Structure: Group
Size of Individuals: 1/2″ long
Age of Individuals: Unknown
Date added to Tank: May 2009
Broodstock Tank Details:
Size of Tank: 40g
Substrate Details: Bare bottom
Filtration Details: Live Rock, Skimmer, Carbon/GFO Reactor
Water Changes: 10% Weekly
Water Temperature: 76 degrees
Lighting: 6 x 39W T-5
Lighting Cycle: 8 hours on
Other Tank Inhabitants: Blue legged crabs, nerites, corals
Broodstock Tank Feeding Details:
Food Types: Formula Two Pellets and DIY Frozen Blended Seafood
Feeding Schedule: 2x/week
Spawning Details:
Date of First Spawn: Within days after introduction to the aquarium
Spawn Time of Day: Unknown
Dates of Consecutive Spawns: Constantly?
Courtship Details: None apparent yet
Egg Size: <1mm
Egg Color: White
Egg Count: 6-7 in each packet
Hatch Details:
Hatch Date: 2/6/2012
Hatch Time of Day: Unknown
# Days after Spawn: ~28 days
Larvae Description: Adult-like
Larval Tank Details:
Temperature: 76
Size of Larval Tank: 40g
Substrate Details: Bare Bottom
Other Tank Decor: Live Rock
Filtration Details: Live Rock, Skimmer, GFO/Carbon Media Reactor
Lighting: 6 x 39W T-5
Lighting Cycle: 8 on
Water Changes: 10% weekly
Larval Tank Feeding Details:
Food Types: Algae
Feeding Schedule: Constant
Metamorphosis/Settlement:
Date of Settlement Start: N/A
Days after Hatch: N/A
Date of Settlement End: N/A
Description of Fry: Appear as small adults
Grow-Out Tank Details:
Temperature: 76
Size of Grow-Out Tank: 40g
Substrate Details: Bare Bottom
Other Tank Decor: Live Rock
Filtration Details: Live Rock, Skimmer, GFO/Carbon Media Reactor
Lighting: 6 x 39W T-5
Lighting Cycle: 8 hr on
Water Changes: 10% weekly
Size at Transfer: N/A
Age at Transfer: N/A
Grow-Out Feeding Details:
Food Types: Algae
Feeding Schedule: Constant
Additional Information:
Update 14 June 2012: I’ve found that these snails are able to make some sort of mucus thread that they are able to slide down in order to drop themselves lower in the tank. I also got to watch a snail glide across the top of the water surface, make a thread (only held by the surface tension), and then drop down to the bottom of the tank. It’s quite fascinating to watch!
Great Reference Info (with photos): http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/11/aafeature