Common Mollusks for Salt Water Aquariums

Although not always commercially available, mollusks are interesting additions to the salt water aquarium. These creatures make up a varied and plentiful group of invertebrates that are found in diverse marine habitats. Three principal groups of mollusks can be found around reef habitats. These comprise the cephalopods, such as octopus and squid; the gastropods and the bivalves. Bivalve animals include mussels, clams and scallops, while the gastropod members are nudibranchs, snails and chitons. Members from each of these groups can be successfully kept in marine aquariums.

  1. General Considerations

    • Sea water mollusks have become increasingly popular among marine aquarist, as progressively more hobbyists are setting up reef tanks, which mainly contain invertebrate animals. Mollusks can be housed with fish, but the enthusiast must choose these carefully, as many species will either prey on mollusks or continually disturb them. Members of the gastropod group are not only highly attractive, but are functional in a salt water aquarium, as they keep the glass panes and décor clean, by continually cropping any algae growths that appear.

    Gastropods

    • These herbivorous creatures have a one-piece shell. Among the gastropods, the cowries are most sought after by aquarists. These are well-camouflaged marine snails that are slow-moving, peaceful grazers. Cowries are best kept with herbivorous fish, or in aquariums that only contain invertebrate animals, as many fish species will bite at the cowry's mantle.

    Bivalves

    • These active filter feeding mollusks have a shell made up of two halves. Bivalves feed by straining food items out of the surrounding water, which they continually pump through their bodies. Maxima clams are popular bivalves for salt water aquariums. The mantel of these clams exhibit stunning colors; and as the animal obtains its nourishment by filtering organisms from the water, clams assist the tank's filters by keeping water in a pristine condition.

    Cephalopods

    • Although the highly intelligent octopus is much sought after by advanced aquarists, these animals require specific housing requirements. Octopi must be supplied with at least one dark cave or hide away and requires a tight-fitting lid over the aquarium too prevent the animals from escaping. This cephalopod will also need to be housed alone, as it will in the confines of an aquarium, eventually hunt down and capture any fish and invertebrates such as crabs that are housed with it. Cuttlefish and squid that make up this group of mollusks, are not frequently kept in salt water aquariums.