What To Do With Apple Snails?

[RustyRay]

I've had an explosion of golden apple snails in my 55 gallon tank. So I'm just wondering what every one else does with their surplus snails. It seems a shame to put them down, but I just don't have the extra tank space for them. Any recommendations?

Many Thanks

[snakeskinner]

well, I accidentally picked up a couple of the small brown snails from an LFS and now it's a daily routine for my wife and I to scoop the ones we can out with a net and trash them. I don't want to introduce clown loaches since I have lots of small fish and baby platy's and mollies from time to time. Puffers are obviously out of the question since I have other fish. There is a product called "had a snail" that I've seen that should kill them off but you'd have to keep the ones you want out of the tank till you were done. I think it's also harmful to other inverts and possibly plants. Catching them is the problem. Kyle

[Lauren]

I did a gravel change and took 90% of my snails away with my gravel. :p there are still a few stray snails, but I just leave them. If they get to the top of the tank, I smash them with my fingers and leave them on the glass as a treat for my fish, the love the insides of the snails.

[Hans]

one time i went golfing and i took some live apple snails, man they go far!

[Leopardess]

Well... rather than killing them or using them as SPORTING goods, which I see as an inhumane way to treat an animal...even a snail...

What I do with my extra snails that are big enough (as I assume apples will be) and have a little container near the tanks with some tank water in it. Then I pull out the snails I don't want (or as many as I have patience to do) and stick 'em in the container with a piece of plant or lettuce. I usually go to the LFS at least once a week anyway and I just give the snails to them for their snail tank.

It's not out of my way and the store gets more snails and the snails don't die:)

[LMOUTHBASS]

i've often thought of doing this with snails or something i don't want - hahaha put them in a cup , hide them in your pocket - go to petsmart or something like that and when no one is looking dump them in one of their tanks!!! lol hey they've got tons of snails in their fish tanks anyhow - and if their golden applesnails they'll turn around n sell them! just dont put them in the plants tank cause then people will be bringin home unwanted critters! but seriously i woul prob do that cause i'm a wimp n don't like killing innocent things!
i woulnt reccomend this to do on your local lfs guy but a big chain store wont ever notice or prob even care
can't wait to hear the harrasment of this thought!!!! :laugh:

[snakeskinner]

well, I have two large mystery snails I picked up, at petsmart in fact, that I got tired of them devouring my plants faster than I could buy them so I put them in a beta bowl but no LFS will take them. I've tried everyone so I'm waiting till warmer weather and putting them in a cattle stock tank (large 1000 gallon water tank) and let them feast on the moss and algae. The smaller ones reproduce faster than I can pull them out. If I were to try and put them in a bowl to save their lives, I'd have a solid gallon jug full in the last 6 months. there's just no way to humanely get them out except to completely dismantle my 55 gallon tank and meticulously clean every piece including the substrate. I know how you feel about humanely keeping them but it's a last resort. I searched for a fish to take care of the job naturally but as I stated before, the clown loach is the only one I was told about and it likes baby fish as well. cya, Kyle

[Lauren]

Originally posted by Leopardess
Well... rather than killing them or using them as SPORTING goods, which I see as an inhumane way to treat an animal...even a snail...

if course its inhumane... their animals, there for, not human. :p

I know what I do is cruel, but I didn't know what else to do with them. And by my avatar you can tell I'm not really your poster peta member.

[ewok]

escargot? :D

in any case, crushing them for the fish to eat isn't "that" bad. hans, you're out of line tho. :shake:

if these are apple snails i would think you should be able to sell them to a lfs. the "pond" and "trumpet" snails are considered a pest or nuisance to most people, but apples are expensive. they charge like $1 apiece for them around here. the lfs may only give you store credit and only like 30% of what they think they can sell them for, but free food and supplies is still free. ;)

another option you might be able to use is someplace like www.aquabid.com. alot of people will pay for them i would imagine, and shipping is pretty easy. i *think* all most snail people do is seal them in a bag with some wet paper towels....

good luck

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Hans, what about bowling with the really big ones? ;)

My clown loachy boy takes care of all my little brat snails. I still see a few when i turn the lights on in the morning, but i like them in there to eat up the dead leaves. (yes my tank is getting nicely overgrown). I have a ramhorn snail that hasnt created any more thankfully yet, and hopefully wont.

I think giving them to the pet store would be a good way to get rid of them. Or crush the little ones for fish food. Whatever, i mean you feed them live foods already- why not snails?

[DEmigh]

Hans and ewok,

Apple Snails... How about pie? :D

[OrionGirl]

Apple snails eggs are easily avoided. Apples lay their eggs above the water line, so if you keep the water level high enough, the fish will eat any eggs that do get laid.

Other snails only reproduce when there is an excess of nutrients--so reduce your feeding, increase the cleaning, and you'll control the snail population.

Other option--find someone with a puffer. They will gladly accept healthy snails as a great food source.

[Mark_b]

I wish i knew someone with a snail problem! I could feed them to my Mbu.

[Grassguy]

Mark_b....where u live?

[Mark_b]

Im in the UK.
Unlike just about everyone else on this forum!

[Grassguy]

Sorry, I got a few I could do without, but that's a little much of a ride.:huh:

[Leopardess]

Lauren, I was not specifically referring to you...but instead our dear friend Hans;)

Part of the reason why I said to take them to a LFS once a week or every other week is for the reason ewok (I think) suggested...those things cost 2.50 a piece here! That's a lot of money to squash away.

And, Im VERY sad to say, my snail, Herbie the Love Snail is no more as of last night:( I walked in and he was dead - NOT cool. I loved that little guy. Sigh:( No clue what happened to him- he wasn't that old...poor guy.

[LMOUTHBASS]

blue snail crapped out on me last week - i miss the lil' bugger but i have a new gold snail - got him a few months ago he has tripled in size the thing must be a genetic freak!!! i had my other snail muich longer n he never got this big!!!

[kveeti]

Originally posted by Leopardess
And, Im VERY sad to say, my snail, Herbie the Love Snail is no more as of last night.

Sorry to hear about your snail. I am intrigued by the name. Herbie is cute, but why "the Love Snail"?

LMOUTHBASS - Sorry about your blue snail, too.


edit... Oh, a thought just hit me, Herbie the Love Bug, like the car???

[Leopardess]

I named him Herbie at first...then what popped into my head was Herbie the Love Bug...So he became Herbie the Love *Snail*. Plus, this guy was the most lovable thing...so it fit.

I used to feed him bloodworms straight into his mouth - he was cool.:cool:

I'm probably going to get another one and hopefully it will be as cool and will live longer. (go figure that the 100 other snails in that tank are fine:rolleyes: )

[kveeti]

Thanks. You probably answered just as the thought popped into my head and I edited! That is cute.