Fighting conch

[nigel]

I read they are very good sand stirrers and algae eaters.
Where can I get them?
Those who have them how do you rate their usefulness in your reef tank?

[commie]

I pick upped 2 fighting conches about 3 months ago at a Big Al's store in North York. They were like 2 for $20. Not sure if they have them now.
When I got them, they were like 1 " long, now they have about doubled in size. Stays in the sand all day long, and cleans the surface of any algae. I also have 1 sea cumcumber that does that. Now I am suspecting 2 conch may be too many in my tank, I have a 75G with a 4-6 " dsb. Now sandbed is starting to have not enough algae to support the conch, and I noticed that they are extending their mouth to glaze up the glass for algae, although they can't stay on the glass.
I am very happy with the conches, before I got them, my sandbed would look like brown and green with algae, now its the white sand.

[nigel]

I called big al's --no luck. How will you supplement the conch feeding? I too have a cucumber and I am very happy with the job it does, I was even thinking of getting a second one.
I would like to try the fighting conch.

[commie]

I was in the big als store on yonge / steele today..and in their tank with hermits crabs, snails, etc...they still had fighting conch listed at that price. I didn't look too carefully to see if there were actually any living ones, but saw some shells.

[Dman]

commie,
If you do decide that two is too many for your tank I have a wonderfull 200 gallon that could really use her :)
Dman

[Dman]

Commie,
Is this your post on RC?
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=27276&perpage=25&pagenumber=2

If so where is that Chinese place with thee Conch's? Did you get a chance to do more research?

[commie]

DMAN,

That wasn't my post on RC. I am 'commie' there as well.
BTW- my name has nothing to do with politics...Its my university almuni. At Queen's us commerce students was known as the 'Commies', so I guess I am still sufferring from their brainwashing during froshweek . :)

Anyways, back to the conches. The conches mentioned that was found in the chinese supermarket is rather large. I am chinese myself, and we eat conches. Very tasty!! Its a rather delicacy, and usually we were cut off the head part and slice it thin and boil it or stir fry, some even like to eat it raw. The other half, the mushy side is usually left for a soup based, as its not as tasty.

You will find most chinese supermarkets where they sell fresh seafoods will carry them all the time during spring/summer, and occasionally during the winter. They are HUGE like 3-4 inches, and will retail for about 1.99 to 2.99 per pound. Each one is probably pound to pound and a half.
And they are still alive.
Not too sure if they will be good for a fish tank though...But if your tank is big enough its worth a try. They are a form of the species 'queen' conch. If they don't do a thing you can always cook it up and eat it... Hahahaha Just kidding..

Also, if I find that 2 fighting conch is too many for my 75, you'll be the first to know. Unless I cook one of them up... :)

Commie

[afss]

For any one in the toronto area, they still have a few at the big al's in missisauga. I picked one up today at 11.94 i think. 3 were 30.00
Scott

[Dman]

Yup,
Picked up two of them as I have two fairly large expanses of open sand. Pretty cool so far, hopped around for a while then buried themselves in the sand.

[canuckreef]

there is one at the Newmarket big als... i saw it there today..and i guess someone will scoop it soon.. either on w/e or for boxing day sale..