snail questions

[funktree]

I did try searching but there are too many snail threads to easily find what I am looking for. I have a new tank, got it cycled, planted and partially stocked. I seem to have picked up some snails from the plants I got from the store. My questions are these;

- I see alot of threads about people trying to get rid of snails, is this just a cosmetic decision or is there some reason they are bad?

- I am betting the answer to the first question depends on the types of snails, so how do I tell? They are a couple different shapes and they range in size quite a bit. They spend about equal time on the glass and the plants. They don't appear to be damaging the plants, although it may be too early to tell. Most of the smaller ones have a pointed shell, but some of the bigger ones are a spiral shell.

- If I need/want to downsize the population some is there a peaceful community fish that'll eat some, or am I better off dealing with them manually?


I do enjoy having some of them in the tank, and so does my 3 year old daughter, she loves finding them and counting them. I just want to make sure I am not setting myself up for a problem down the road if I let them be.

Thanks in advance for any advice you guys can give.

[LittlePuff]

It's all looks. They do make ALOT of poo, though.

[captaincrampton]

some loaches will eat snails.

[Mgamer20o0]

always in favor of dealing with them manually vs fish or chemicals. they like dead plants. put some dead lettuce over night and the snails should cover it.

snails only will breed to the amount of food they have. no extra food = no extre breeding. make sure not to over feed the fish.

[funktree]

thanks for the prompt replies, I'll leave them alone til they start to get annoying then

[kw0me]

when i do pwcs i just squish a few and my fishies eat them also my female guppy eats little ones when she finds them same with my angels.

[didy]

I just pick some of them out a few times a month. They end up in the garden with the old water.