Nassarius sp. study #2 post 1

Nassarius sp. (cf pauper) Life cycle study # 2 (deep study)

March 28, 2010--

A water bath was set up utilizing a black plastic "concrete tub" filled with approximately 4 inches of tap water.  A 200 watt aquarium heater was added to maintain temp at 78.8*F and an airstone was added to normalize temperature through the bath.

Eight 1 quart mason jars were stripped of their metal lids, filled with artificial salt water and placed within the bath.  The artificial salt water was mixed utilizing reverse osmosis water with an adition of Sea Chem "Salinity" salt mix to a salinity of 35PSU.  Temperature and Salinity decision was based on NOAA and NASA reports around the Fiji region where the snails are beleived to have originated.  The bath will be set until temperature normalizes after which a 1 inch layer of aragonite substrate will be added to four of the 8 culture jars.  Two specimens of Nassarius sp. will be added to each jar and observed with intent on finding the following:

Full life cycle (spawning, removal of adults, observation of juvinile to adult time)

Sex (examination to determine sex)

Spawning methods

Substrate preferences