View Full Version : Snails are overrunning my tank
stratusfearrr
09-26-2009, 10:12 AM
The title says it all. All the snails that came in on my plants are taking over my tank! How do I get rid of them? Is there a way to get rid of the snails without harmful chemicals?
Please help me.
petluvr
09-26-2009, 10:15 AM
Cut back on your feedings and increase gravel vacs and you will see a dramatic decrease. There are traps and things that can be used but I have never been successful using them.
FastFly67
09-26-2009, 10:37 AM
like petluvr said, stop overfeeding and deep gravel vacs. you can also put pieces of lettuce or cucumbers in at night and then yank them in the morning.
stratusfearrr
09-26-2009, 11:18 AM
i also heard somewhere that red-tailed sharks will eat them. so i was thinking that i might get three or four of them, and leave them in my tank for a month. Would that be a bad idea?
FastFly67
09-26-2009, 11:42 AM
buying fish to solve a problem is never a good idea
jpappy789
09-26-2009, 11:49 AM
I agree.
As far as I know RTS don't feast on snails as would a "botiine" loach.
Either way there should be no reason to buy a fish just to get rid of a problem.
Snails are hard to erradicate completely without causing other problems. But the population can easily be controlled by not overfeeding and manual removal. Try the "bait" method.
stratusfearrr
09-26-2009, 11:51 AM
whats the "bait" method?
67chevelle
09-26-2009, 12:03 PM
Either weigh some lettuce down with a rock or decoration,or get a small plastic container,(yogurt container) and cut holes small enough for the snails to get in,and put the lettuce in.Do this after the lights are out.Then check it every hour or so and remove what ever snails are on the lettuce.
This method,picking them out by hand,not overfeeding,and good gravel vacs should help keep their numbers more manageable.
Adding more fish or assassin snails to eat the pest snail is never a good option.
jpappy789
09-26-2009, 12:04 PM
like petluvr said, stop overfeeding and deep gravel vacs. you can also put pieces of lettuce or cucumbers in at night and then yank them in the morning.
;)
Jaykit
09-26-2009, 12:05 PM
like petluvr said, stop overfeeding and deep gravel vacs. you can also put pieces of lettuce or cucumbers in at night and then yank them in the morning.
This is the "bait" method. The snails will go to eat the food and then you can just pull it out with all the snails attached.
Bubbles2112
09-26-2009, 12:06 PM
You could sell them here on AC........
stratusfearrr
09-26-2009, 12:19 PM
why would i want to sell all those little snails?
FastFly67
09-26-2009, 12:25 PM
because people are always looking for feeder snails for their loaches and/or puffer fish. i have a tank of JUST bladder snails to feed my loaches.
I buy pest snails all the time
Posted on mobile.aquariacentral.com
Luvbugz
09-26-2009, 12:46 PM
If the prices aren't riduculous, people will buy them here. I have a F8 puffer and I purposely try and breed ramshorn snails in all of my tanks for her.
dundadundun
09-26-2009, 1:10 PM
if they are that much of a problem follow all advice above and during water changes remove any that you see. gravel vacs and not overfeeding is really what'll keep you from having to constantly remove them. they feed on extras and when they're full they mate.
stratusfearrr
09-26-2009, 4:40 PM
if i were to sell them on here, how do i do it? how do i package them and all? i do have a small tank i can put them in and let them hatch and all that.
Whiteroses90991
09-28-2009, 8:37 AM
You could buy a fish to eat the snails; if you have the extra space and a possibly not so handsome newcomer doesn't bother you. Depending on what kind of snail they are a red tailed shark might eat them, but I have a six to seven inch red tailed shark and he isn't a snail eater. I had him in a thirty-five gallon, when he was just a baby and it was loaded with snails. I couldn't get him to touch them, for the life of me. But if they are common snails, a yoyo botia will eat them like crazy. Two in a seventy-five gallon fishtank will give you no worries about common snails again. But beware yoyo botias will not eat Malaysian snails.
coach_z
09-28-2009, 9:07 AM
if you buy a fish to feed on your snails...and then your snails are all gone you then have the problem of finding snails to feed to your fish....so basically after you eradicate your snails you need to put snails into your tank...:scratchhead:
so....there are many methods of baiting your snails and removing them from your tank. read the sticky about shipping fish/snails on the top of the classifieds page' for shipping info.
-chris