Hello from Connecticut!

[KingSnail]

I have an inherited 200 gallon reef tank and almost two years of experience with it. I love the hobby and would like to get better at it. I stumbled onto RSF after hearing "DIBS Turbo snails" mentioned in a reef article and then googling my way to this site. I have had trouble keeping store-bought snails alive for more than a few months and I love the idea of breeding them instead.

I also have quite a few mushroom corals in my tank and they are breeding like rabbits (or should I say aiptasia?). I am not sure if that makes me a breeder, but I would definitely like to become one, once I figure out how to get started. Unfortunately, this web site has not pointed me towards the proper path, so any tips would be highly appreciated.

Cheers,

Andreas

["Umm, fish?"]

Hey Andreas! It looks like a lot of the readily-breeding snail populations in this project took a big hit last year. A lot of the breeders are in the Houston area and Hurricane Ike really did a number on them. So, a lot of people seem to be scrambling to get their populations back up. Personally, I was in a remodel last year and have only been back in for ~6 months. My populations are slowly coming up, but aren't really ready for splitting yet.

So, it seems tough to get starter populations right now, but hang in there.

Congrats on the mushrooms. They count!

In the meantime, you can always try breeding some of the inverts you can find at the LFS. Pocillopora corals breed sexually very readily once they get to a certain size and if there are more than one colony available. So do tubastrea and are very gorgeous, besides.

I like the little mini-brittlestars and often find individuals at the LFS if I look very carefully in their coral tanks. The LFS guy usually just gives them to me for the asking. They are easy to culture and fun to watch. Same goes for cleanup crew members like sandbed worms.

You can also get started by occasionally ordering small orders of quality live rock and trying to culture the life that shows up there. Best for that is to talk to the Florida live rock guys and ask them to send you some good stuff. Be sure to put it in a separate system 'til you know what's hiding in there, though. The Florida rock often comes with bonus mantis shrimp.

Otherwise, what do you want to breed? What are your interests?

[KingSnail]

Thanks for the welcome and all the great tips!

I pretty much have my heart set on those DIBS Turbo snails, as I would like them to help keep the tank clean. I do not have any corals, yet, except for the mushrooms, and I would like to first get the basics in order. I acquired hair algae from not properly adjusting the skimmer for a while (I think), and I found that turbos are great at cleaning them up.

Before they perish, that is. Apparently most turbos sold at stores are not really suitable for a tropical system, and it would be great to have some that are a) suitable, and b) breeding, so I don't have to waste a new batch of the poor suckers every few months. I strongly believe that these breedable species should be more widely available, just to stop the carnage. I suppose the stores won't sell them because it would cut into business? I think that an aquarium should be as close to natural as possible, and nothing is more natural than a self-propagating population.

So, if anyone knows how I can get some DIBS turbos up here in Connecticut, I would be ecstatic. I'll gladly trade them for a bunch of my mushroom corals.

After that, I will get a Butterflyfish to take care of the Aiptasia (I am breeding those, too, unfortunately) and then I would like to try growing real corals.

It's not much, but it's a plan...


Andreas

[GaryWhite]

Greetings All !

Welcome to RSF, Andreas ! ...:elephant: :elephant: :frogjump:



... I suppose the stores won't sell them because it would cut into business? ... They'll sell anything that makes their life easier, and makes them money. :D ;)

They oftentimes don't, not because it cuts into business, but because (a) the number of specimens available is too small; (b) the supply of specimens is to inconsistent; (c) the price point doesn't allow for a large enough profit; (d) the breeder presents reliability, trust, and experience issues; (e) the store has not educated itself or its staff regarding the desirability of captive bred livestock ... or (more typically) some combination of these.


JMO
:thumbsup:

[BrianPlankis]

Thanks for the welcome and all the great tips!

I pretty much have my heart set on those DIBS Turbo snails, as I would like them to help keep the tank clean. I do not have any corals, yet, except for the mushrooms, and I would like to first get the basics in order. I acquired hair algae from not properly adjusting the skimmer for a while (I think), and I found that turbos are great at cleaning them up.

Just keep in mind that not all "Turbo" snails eat the same algae. The RSF Turbos in my tank will eat some hair algae, but not other types. Other breeders have reported the same experience.


Before they perish, that is. Apparently most turbos sold at stores are not really suitable for a tropical system, and it would be great to have some that are a) suitable, and b) breeding, so I don't have to waste a new batch of the poor suckers every few months. I strongly believe that these breedable species should be more widely available, just to stop the carnage. I suppose the stores won't sell them because it would cut into business? I think that an aquarium should be as close to natural as possible, and nothing is more natural than a self-propagating population.


You just stated one of the primary reasons Project DIBS was formed in the first place. Having a natural aquarium with self-sustaining populations of critters is the way to go. Especially considering that natural reefs, without significant changes by humanity, will not support the bulk of the hobby in as little as 10-20 years from now. Building breeding populations in captivity is in our own interest.


It's not much, but it's a plan...

Andreas

Sounds like a great plan to me!

Brian