While at the LFS the other day, I noticed some rather large snails in their plant tank. I asked the owner if they were for sale, and he said I could have them if I wanted. I left with 2 large (about 1 1/2") and 1 smaller (about 3/4") snails.
I got home and tossed them in my planted 29gal. A few hours later, I had some extra time and decided to research the little buggers. I had read about the common ramshorn snails, and assumed that they were a larger variety or species, since they have the same body shape.
I quickly discovered that they are Columbian ramshorns, which are actually a type of apple snail. I also quickly discovered that they are total lawnmowers! I looked in my tank and, sure enough, the largest one was happily munching away at some hornwort. Needless to say, I wasn't amused.
I grabbed an old fishbowl I had sitting around. I tossed in some flourite I had just removed from my 29gal, and some hornwort and java moss. And in went the lawnmowers. (Along with the few pond snails I could find. This actually worked out well, since I've been wanting to set up a pond snail hatchery. They simply don't last very long in my 29gal.)
I recalled many people using lettuce as bait to catch MTS, so I tossed in a fairly large leaf in the evening before going to bed. In the morning, it had been devoured! For the past couple days, I've been giving them plenty of lettuce and I haven't noticed much damage to the plants. It seems they prefer lettuce.
Does anyone else keep Columbian ramshorns? What setting do you keep them in? What do you feed them? I'd love to hear any information you can pass on. These are really interesting little critters.
I don't have any pictures of mine, but a google image search will show you some great pics.
I got home and tossed them in my planted 29gal. A few hours later, I had some extra time and decided to research the little buggers. I had read about the common ramshorn snails, and assumed that they were a larger variety or species, since they have the same body shape.
I quickly discovered that they are Columbian ramshorns, which are actually a type of apple snail. I also quickly discovered that they are total lawnmowers! I looked in my tank and, sure enough, the largest one was happily munching away at some hornwort. Needless to say, I wasn't amused.
I grabbed an old fishbowl I had sitting around. I tossed in some flourite I had just removed from my 29gal, and some hornwort and java moss. And in went the lawnmowers. (Along with the few pond snails I could find. This actually worked out well, since I've been wanting to set up a pond snail hatchery. They simply don't last very long in my 29gal.)
I recalled many people using lettuce as bait to catch MTS, so I tossed in a fairly large leaf in the evening before going to bed. In the morning, it had been devoured! For the past couple days, I've been giving them plenty of lettuce and I haven't noticed much damage to the plants. It seems they prefer lettuce.
Does anyone else keep Columbian ramshorns? What setting do you keep them in? What do you feed them? I'd love to hear any information you can pass on. These are really interesting little critters.
I don't have any pictures of mine, but a google image search will show you some great pics.
