Lot of Snails -- Is this Bad?

[DTs]

I've got a ton of these guys in my planted tank. They don't appear to be hurting the leaves, however. Is it ok to leave them, or should I get rid of them? I believe they're called "pond snails". If I should get rid of them, what's the best way?

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-12/78069/Snail.JPG

[Slappy*McFish]

Just leave them..I have those all in my 10 gallon tank....the baby snails will provide food for your fish.

[DTs]

Good deal. They're all but impossible to physically remove and make a difference. Thanks.

[TKOS]

I like having snails. They're generally good at getting left over food. If they start building up try placing some lettuce on the bottom of the tank and then when it is covered in snails just remove it. There will still be plenty of them left.

I find that they only eat algae off of leaves or leaves that are starting to decay.

[DTs]

Using lettuce is a fantastic idea. I've watched them closely on my more delicate plants and do not find they do any damage. So I'll leave them alone for now. Besides, I think they spend half their time at the water edge "doin' it".

Thanks.

[promethean_sprk]

I've got trumpet snails to wazzoo in most of my tanks. It's deceptive how many there are during the day, but at night if I ambush them I'll see literally thousands in my 55g. They form little snail mosh pits around catfish pellets. They dont eat plants, but dont seem to eat a couple forms of algae either. I worry about the bioload, but not overfeeding. ;)

[Tim Bo]

I enjoy having snails in my tanks as well. Like previously mentioned, they're good at sifting through the gravel and churning through some of the debris in the tank. Too many snails can indicate an imbalance in the tank..

[Celura]

Can you put these snails in with a Betta to clean the gravel?

[jeffro426]

Originally posted by DTs
I've got a ton of these guys in my planted tank. They don't appear to be hurting the leaves, however. Is it ok to leave them, or should I get rid of them? I believe they're called "pond snails". If I should get rid of them, what's the best way?

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-12/78069/Snail.JPG
SEnd me some! I need some for my puffers!!!

[DTs]

Actually, I just bought 3 dwarf puffers the other week (the really, really small ones that stay tiny) and I'm curious if they'll whittle the population down. It's a 90g tank with tons of snails, so we'll see.

[mbeck]

You'll never get them all - but I saw a trick at the LFS, to cut down on them. Get a cucumber, and cut a strip of it lengthwise. Put in the tank - leave it overnight. In the AM there will be a ton of snails on it, just take it out and pitch it.

[nfinit1]

Had snails really bad in my 75 gal
Bought three dorio botias.....next morning....NO SNAILS

I do see snails from time to time...it seems to be a nice balance now though
A few snails here and there....just enough for snacks for the botias and enough to work on algae and detris

[Celura]

I saw a product at the LFS today called "Had-A-Snail" to get rid of excess snails. I don't know how safe it is with other fish or anything or how it works, but it wouldn't hurt to look into.

Just my $0.02. :)

[DIYMatt]

I saw a product at the LFS today called "Had-A-Snail" to get rid of excess snails. I don't know how safe it is with other fish or anything or how it works, but it wouldn't hurt to look into.

I have heard nothing but bad things about "had-a-snail". Any herbicide/animalicide screa me and I would stay away from all of them. There is always a more natural solution, IMO.


Actually, I just bought 3 dwarf puffers the other week (the really, really small ones that stay tiny) and I'm curious if they'll whittle the population down. It's a 90g tank with tons of snails, so we'll see.

I "had" snails in my 75g snails also, until I got two "Dwarf Indian Puffers". 1/2 inch and one inch long respectively. That was less than four months ago. They were mostly the "trumpet snails" mentioned above and now I am in the same boat as jeffro426. Can you send me some snails? I actually have started a snail tank to feed the two puffers. They are amazing, I have seen the little one eat snails literally the same size that it is. I still see the occasional snail, but maybe one or two here and there. I had the same nightime crop of snails that apparently were eating a green slime algae when they covered the front glass. Now, I have to clean that about once every 1-2 weeks. I almost never cleaned the glass before. You may be looking for snails or a home for the puffers as I am. Thanks!

[promethean_sprk]

I got a pair of skunk loaches to attack my snails, they seem good at eating pond and ramshorn snails, but don't really impact the trumpet snails much.

I had a thought, snails have alot of minerals in their shells, might you be able to soften water by fostering the snails and harvesting their carbonate from time to time? Also, will the snails shells dissolve in soft/acidic water? I know that seashells will, and I've noticed that the tips of the trumpet snails tend to be missing. Could be they just wear their houses down digging in the substrate.