Tell me about Spixis

[Wycco]

So I saw a conversation on selling spixis on here- so that made me have to go google them... and what I found was... a LOT of contradictory statements!


So: do they (or do they not) eat plants if you feed them other things? (does it depends on what plants you have)

Do they (or do they not) eat other snails- and if they do- is this restricted by size or species? Will a spixi eat a brigg?

Do they (or do they not) reproduce like little bunnies and take over?




Seems like everywhere on line contradicts over these issues. Was curious from those that do have them what your thoughts on the above three issues are.


Oh, and if they eat snails- would they also eat shrimp?


thank you!

 

[Sploke]

I haven't had issue with mine eating plants. This may come from the fact that they can hybridize with Marisa sp. snails, and the offspring, while looking like spixis, have the plant appetite of the Marisas. This is one very good reason not to keep both species of snail at the same time.

I don't believe mine eat other snails or snail eggs. The tanks I have spixies in also have ramshorn and pond snails in just as high numbers as the tanks without spixies. I do believe they eat smaller organisms though, such as planaria and nematodes, which makes them good candidates for shrimp or snail breeding tanks that don't have the small fish that normally eat those things.

They are fairly prolific, but not like ramshorns IME. The egg masses are much larger and easier to spot (even though they're laid underwater unlike other apple snails) so easy enough to pull them out if you feel like you're getting overrun.

 

[Wycco]

So, you would say they are not a harmfull snail to have in a planted community tank with other inverts present?

As long as if I got some they really were Spixi and not a hybrid. Is there any way to tell if they are pure or hybrid? (before they start eating plants)

 

[Sploke]

The only way I know is to get them from a trusted source.

 

[petluvr]

Mine are in a heavily planted tank with shrimp as well as ramshorn and bladders and I have no problems with them eating anything other than what I feed them. They can reproduce rather heavily, I remove several clutches a week, if allowed. You wouldnt happen to be in Va are you, if so I got some I can sell you?

 

[Wycco]

OK... thank you...

No, I'm in South Carolina- but I noticed someone else in South Carolina having a few for sale which is what made me get interested.

 

[excuzzzeme]

Like the others I have no problems with their breeding or with my RCS. Because of their efficiency of eating algae, my ramshorn population is quite low. They eat mauch of the same things the RCS eat and so I overfeed to assure there is enough for both. They do not bother my java moss or sunset hygro.

 

[Wycco]

Well... My spixis arrived Tuesday... Hurrah! I'm starting with 3 in my 55gallon- but I hope to raise a clutch of eggs when they lay (assuming there is at least one male and female amongst them)- and I'll keep some of the young!

They can be hard to spot at times because I'm so heavily planted and lots of caves...etc... but it is almost a reward when I do see them!




Anyhow- so far I've seen no evidence of plants being eaten. What I HAVE seen though is a number of empty ramshorn and bladder snail shells all of a sudden. There's perhaps 7 or 8 that I can count that have appeared in the last three days. Combining the suddenly appeared empty shells and that I have read some places that Spixis will eat snails it has made me suspect that mine have been too.

The ghost shrimp will eat the tiny-baby snails from time to time- and I've seen them pluck one two or three milimeters in size...but never the full grown bladders or 7mm round ramshorns- so I can't believe they are responsible.

Naturally I have to assume the Spixis are responsible for this since they're the new guys in the tank and this has happened since they came along... and it doesn't bother me if they are eating rams and bladders- actually I like it (as long as they don't completely wipe out my ramshorns)... BUT...

... since many people say their spixis don't eat other snails- is the fact that mine appear to be (not that I've witnessed it) is this a sign I'm not giving them nutrition that they need?

There are always fresh vegs available- and I do make snail jello (although it gets eaten by the fish too)- the fish get a wide range of food that I assume the snails get to eat the left overs of besides their normal food... but I imagine veggies and snail jello makes up the bulk of their diet... do I need to find a way to get more protein to them?

Or should I just enjoy them teaming up with the shrimp to keep my bladder and ramshorn snail population controlled?

 

[vampie]

Unless you actually see it kill a snail, it could just be a coincidence.

Eating other snails is something a hybrid would inherit from a Marisa.

 

[Wycco]

I have not witnessed a Spixi eating a snail... so it could be a coincidence. Water parms are normal so I can't think why else rams and bladders have died off.

I don't know what happens to snails when they die but normally I almost never see empty snail shells... now there are quite a few... (and I don't know if there are any in the plants I can't see)