mystery snails?

[AnnetteG]

Okay, I'm probably going to get yelled at for moving too quickly, but I have a 10 gallon tank that has been set up for about a week now. I just added 2 mystery snails and a betta last night. The snails are gold and black. 1 of each, I mean. I put in one algae tablet. I was wondering how often I will need to do that since it's a new tank?

Also, will the two of them reproduce? I don't really want them to, I'd just like to know what's up with that.

Thanks!

Annette

[msjinkzd]

they might if they are of different genders. However, they lay their egg clutches above the surface of the water and they are easy to remove if you don't want baby snails. The snails will also eat leftover food from the betta. You can look at www.applesnail.net (http://www.applesnail.net) for some more in depth feeding info for the snails.

[Flaringshutter]

hey annette,
it's important that you keep an eye on your water parameters. snails are much more sensitive to nitrite and ammonia than fish, and even low levels can be dangerous. so get some test kits, and keep up with your water changes since your tank is still cycling.

also, the betta may not be the best tankmate. they are generally nippy and aggressive towards snails. the biggest problem will probably be the pH and kH. Snails need hard water, high pH, and lots of calcium, otherwise they will suffer from extremely thin shells and shell erosion that can eventually lead to holes in the shell and death of the snail. bettas generally prefer soft water with low pH, otherwise it can lead to fin rot and general listlessness.

i'd reconsider about the betta, and again, keep an eye on your water parameters. be sure your pH and kH are high enough for the snails.

[AnnetteG]

I moved the snails in with the froglets and the mollies in with the betta. It actually seems like everyone is happier now. The mollies seem to like the bigger tank and it has more hiding places and plants and things for them to explore. The snails immediately came out of their shells, almost as soon as they hit bottom in the frog tank and starting munching up leftover froggie food bits. I found a frog website that said the frogs live peacefully with snails, they don't eat them and the snails help eat what the frogs don't, so that's cool. I hope they'll all grow nice and fat together and I'll keep them together as long as looks like it's working.

I got some stuff from the store tonight called Stress-Zyme and put that in with everyone, following the directions. I got thermometers that stick on the inside of the tank with a suction cup and both tanks show temps hovering just under 80 degrees.

Annette
10 gal. 1 betta & 2 mollies
5 gal. 2 Albino Clawed froglets & 2 mystery snails

[Flaringshutter]

Great! Sounds like a good plan. I believe the snails and frogs will be happy together. I don't know what pH the frogs like, but as I remember they're pretty hardy and tolerant of a wide range of water conditions.
Stress-zyme is a good water conditioner. Lots of us use Seachem Prime, which is a nice all-around conditioner, too. You'll be fine using stress-zyme though.
Well, keep us updated on how the snailies do. :)