Benefits of Snails?

[mrfryc]

This may sound like a dumb question, but what are the overall benefits of having snails in your FW tank?

[Twill]

Some snails (Malaysian Trumpet Snails) will burrow into the substrate and keep it stirred up. Some snails eat a small amount of algae, as well as dead plant and animal matter and other miscellaneous stuff. Occasionally I'll crush a few snails and some of my fish will pick out the meat as a nice treat.

I like having the smaller snail species (MTS and pond snails, in my case) in my tanks because I feel like it's one step closer to a natural ecosystem. They keep my tank tidy (though there's still plenty of work for me to do, of course!).

Larger snails, like apple (mystery) snails and giant Columbian Ramshorns don't necessarily fulfill the same functions. Many of the larger snails will eat plants, and they are poop machines...very messy critters. That's why I have my large snails in their own tank. There's no chance of their massive poop output fouling the water for my fish, and they don't mind their water a little messier.

And aside from all that is their entertainment value. Snails are fascinating creatures. I probably spend more time snail-watching than fish-watching.

[mrfryc]

I have two tanks that are both 30 gallon. One has a couple tiny snails, but it has a 10" pleco and a 10" bichir. The other has about 20 tropical FW fish (tertas, loaches, plecos, corys, ect.) and has a large amount of snails. It dawned on me that the tank with many small fish (and small snails) is as clear as day, where as the bichir/pleco tank is usually a little cloudy. I was going to try to get rid of some snails, but they're not a total nuisance, so I think I'll keep thing where they are (but maybe get some snails in the big guy tank).

[pixl8r]

I completely agree, apple/mystery snails are serious poo manufacturers. I've found that they also will devour the algae in the tanks they inhabit. MTS are most effective in the substrate, but seem a bit more shy about cleaning the upper walls and rocks.

I really don't like pond snails, not because of anything good or bad, I just don't like them aesthetically speaking.

Some things to consider before purchasing snails;

1. If you don't want a massive snail population, pond and MTS may not be for you. If you still want them, you need to make sure that you feed very sparingly.

2. If you have predators such as; loaches, non dwarf crayfish, Macrobrachium shrimp, puffers, and others... that will affect what type of snail you can keep.

I've seen some species of Macro shrimp pluck out MTS snails and Apple snails. They stick their claw in just under the trap door and grab the flesh out. My Cherax quadricarinatus would use brute force to brake the snail shell and eat. Pond snails would have no chance against them or any serious predator since the lack a trap door.

Apple snails can be much more interesting to observe. The require a male and female to reproduce, but they do so easily. Just make sure that there is at least 1.5 inches of glass, above the water line. The female snail will deposit eggs in a cluster above above the water, they will drown other wise. If there isn't enough clear glass, the female might put the eggs in the canopy or glass just below the light, which will 'cook' or dry out the eggs.