NFC: Re: trumpet snails & snail predation in general

["Matt Berg" <mdb6850 at tamug_tamu.edu>]

I've had native Texas cichlids H. cyanoguttatum from the southern part of
the state chowing on Physa snails, mostly by inhaling them, working them
over, and spitting the shells out. There is a fascinating behavior
relationship between the closely related H. minckleyi cichlid group from
Mexico (the well-known Cuatro Cienegas), where several fish morphs have
evolved for specialized feeding on either snails or fishes.
Matt


----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas DeWitt <tdewitt at tamu_edu>
To: <nfc at actwin_com>
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 9:06 AM
Subject: NFC: trumpet snails & snail predation in general


> Luke,
> Interesting observations on the orangethroats!  Did you notice how the
darters eat snails.  I'm curious as to whether they swallow the shells
whole, crushed them or used suction feeding to suck the snail from the
shells.  Are some darters better than others at snailivory.
>
> While we're at it, I'm interested to know what other natives have been
observed eating snails in aquaria, and what means they use.
>
> This has important implications for the evolution of prey defenses, both
behavioral or morphological.
>
> Thom
>
>
> >>> mcclurgl at washburn_edu 04/12/02 01:05AM >>>
>
> I had three tanks that were over run with them.  I put in a half dozen
> orangethroat darters into each and six weeks later, no malaysian snails.
>
> Luke
>
>
> On Thu, 11 Apr 2002, Mark wrote:
>
> > I have found the Malaysian burrowing trumpet snails to be next to
> > impossible to eradicate from your gravel once they are established.  The
> > trap door allows them to wait out most chemical treatments, and the hard
> > shells and burrowing make them innacessible to predatory fishes.  So
don't
> > get them unless you want to keep them!
> >
> > Mark
> > Columbus Ohio USA            <))><
> > mbinkley at columbus_rr.com
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>