the snail question again

[famman]

Hi everybody,

I have been keeping some common ramshorn snails in a 5 gallon tank out of curiosity. I've leaned a lot about them, for example I now know it is pronounced rams - horn, not ram - shorn. :)

I have a newly commisioned planted 46 gallon bowfront tank and I was wondering if I should add some snails to it.

Also, is it possible to select for size? Can I select only the very largest specimens and expect larger snails from my new population?

thanks,

:)

[TKOS]

All of the ramshorn snails should be able to attain full size. I say should as it all depends on the amountof food they receive and also whether there is enough trace elements for them to create new shell material. A lot of snails die off young in fish tanks as the environment doesn't contain what they need to develop. As to how you can achieve this I am not exactly sure. I have a snail tank and I often add some baking soda and a little table salt as this is all I have lying around the house. I suppose if I could get some crushed coral that would be even better.

As for your 46 gallon bow front (sounds like a nice tank) I would definatly add snails. I love the little guys and can't imagine afew of them poping around. Of course I still have to go on a snail hunt every so often but there are always plenty more where they came from.

Try reading about snails on www.applesnail.net

they might have better information