Getting Rid of Malasian Trumpet Snails

[b.greene]

My MTS are our of control. Much of the day they are hidden, but when they come out, there are a million of them. It is tough to cut back on feedings right now, since I have shell dweller babies in the tank that need to eat a couple times a day.
I would like to get rid of a bunch of the snails before I add several new shells for the babies to move into. Once I add them it will be very difficult to disturb the tank substrate without upending houses.
I need something I can scoop the snails up with, letting the sand drain back out. I tried a straining ladel but the angle wasn't quite right.

Any suggestions?

[Kashta]

Kitty litter pan scoop?

[sillypony]

Are you trying to get rid of them completely or just thin them out?

I bought a big strainer last time I changed substrate, it worked well but I was taking it right out of the tank. Perhaps you could get a smaller one (like this http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50287025/Wire_Strainer.jpg ) and set it right on the substrate. Then scoop it through the strainer a bit at a time.

Otherwise, feed in one area for a few days, and then go in and pick them out by hand? That is what I do when I want to take some to the LFS. I feed in the front corner for a good half a week, and they all migrate there. Then I put a small glass cup/jar on the floor of the tank. I pick the snails by hand and drop them in the cup, emptying the cup into a separate container as necessary.

[mel_20_20]

Assassins?

[eveliens]

You can get rid of them...?

J/K. I would make a snail trap. Get a glass jar, place yummy food in it, then turn out the lights. Remove the jar before turning the lights back on. Repeat. And repeat. And repeat. You won't get all of them but you'll make a dent in the population.

[b.greene]

Get a glass jar, place yummy food in it.
What type of food should I put in it?

[b.greene]

Thanks for the suggestion, Sillypony, but the shape doesn't quite work. It needs to have a flat bottom and angled handle.

The kitty litter scooper might work... it has the flat spatula type bottom that can be dug just under the surface and dragged along.

[sillypony]

You may find that dragging the scoop along the bottom doesn't work well. When I did it, you had to really work at a scoop of substrate to get it to shake through, not just drag the scoop through the substrate. Very time consuming :(

But hopefully your substrate is more cooperate than mine. :)

[b.greene]

You may find that dragging the scoop along the bottom doesn't work well. When I did it, you had to really work at a scoop of substrate to get it to shake through, not just drag the scoop through the substrate. Very time consuming :(

But hopefully your substrate is more cooperate than mine. :)

I think you are right, it is going to be tough. I am planing on trying at the time of day when they are scattered all over the top of the sand. I don't need to get rid of all of them, just a good portion. Hand picking might be best.

[b.greene]

Assassins?
I can't find Assassins around my area. I have looked at them on Aquabid. Do you think they would be OK with the shell dweller fry? They are so tiny and I would hate for them to get eaten in the process!

[eveliens]

Lettuce, shrimp pellets, vacation feeders... anything that will stay down in the jar. You're going to get very tired of handpicking; I do that at work when I'm bored and each small tank usually takes about 20-30 minutes.

Assassins shouldn't bother fry.

[RodInCALIFORNIA]

i drop large pieces of green beans down in the bottom of the tank in a open area easy to get a net into and a few hours after the beans have been in there they are covered in a millions snails and i just scoop the beans and snails at 1 time. its very easy very fast and you get a huge amout of snails out at 1 time.

[Fishy_Fun]

To be honest, I really dont think you can get rid of them once you have them.Unless you starve them to death i just don't see it happening.

[247Plants]

To be honest, I really dont think you can get rid of them once you have them.Unless you starve them to death i just don't see it happening.

I think Im gonna have to agree with this.

Only solution I would think would be to get assassin snails, that would be the only 100% way, otherwise it would be impossible to find and kill all of them.

[Sounguru]

Assassins will not kill all the snails they will wipe out the larger ones, but the ones that are too small they will leave alone until they grow to feeding size which is also breeding size.

Assassins will help control the population over time but will not remove it entirely.

[Lupin]

Assassins will not kill all the snails they will wipe out the larger ones, but the ones that are too small they will leave alone until they grow to feeding size which is also breeding size.

Assassins will help control the population over time but will not remove it entirely.
So true.:iagree: My very own babies won't eat MTS smaller than half their size.:perv:

[thebrandon]

Step one to getting rid of them, send them to me:)

[OhNo123]

You can get flatworms.. if you don't have fish in the tank that is. Flatworms eat snails from what I've seen.

Killed off my entire mts population :(.

[b.greene]

I have Tanganyikan Shell Dwellers (including fry) in the tank.

[deeleywoman]

Step one to getting rid of them, send them to me:)
no no no give them to me lol

[b.greene]

Anyone want to sell me a couple assassins???

[Sounguru]

Check the classifieds i know that a couple of peole have some for sale right now I'm tapped until my next round of a 100 or so are ready to go.