Snails - to buy or not to buy

[adblair]

:sad I can't find my snail! I think he must be gone! When he hatched out everyone said I'd probably have tons of snails... now I can't even find the one I had!:sad
So.... should I BUY snails for my tank or just wait and see if I get some off some plants? I might want to add one more plant to that tank, but I may add a couple to another tank.
If I bought a couple what kinds do you suggest?

[Locust]

Snails are really good at hiding so I wouldn't be in any hurry to count your snail as lost. You might try leaving some lettuce in the tank overnight and see if it lures your snail out - that usually does it.

Though if you did want to get some of the common snails from a LFS I woiuldn't be surprised if they just gave them to you, especially if you were buying plants.

[Grassguy]

If you got snails from that LFS, when you buy plants, you'll probably get more. If, however, you choose to buy a snail, I would recommend a Golden Mystery Snail. My son begged for his, and now I like watching it as much as his cories.;)

[TKOS]

I second the lettuce leaf idea. Take some fresh lettuce and put a couple of rocks on it to hold it down. That lures snails all the time.

[adblair]

OK.... I am going to try the lettuce thing. Should I wilt the lettuce first? I only have the pre packaged salad lettuce so the piece isn't going to be very big... does it matter?

:sad Oh no... I just remember that I trimmed a plant that wasn't doing so well around the time he disappeared... he didn't usually hang out around my plants, so I didn't even look.... but what if I threw him away!?!?:sad

[TKOS]

There are numerous fates for your snail so I wouldn't get too upset with yuorself. A fish could even have eaten him. But try the lettuce thing first. The prepackage stuff is fine and the piece doesn't have to be big. Just stick it in as is since it is prewashed and weigh it down on the bottom. Spinach works well too and I even find that celery is a favorite snail food.

[adblair]

Spinach? Celery? What are those? Are they like twinkies and candy bars? LOL

Thanks for the info. I'll file that in the back of my mind for next year when I visit the healthy section of the grocery store.... (just kidding):D

[adblair]

I FOUND HIM!!!!

I rearranged my tank yesterday and I found my little green guy! AND I also found a tiny little brown one in there too! NOW I have TWO snails!!!


I'm thinking maybe I am gonna need a bigger aquarium.....

:)

[adblair]

By the way.... I did try the lettuce thing.... and he wasn't interested.... a snail after my own heart! I'm so proud! I think I'm going to cry....;)

[TKOS]

Sometimes when I put some veggies in my snail tank it takes a couple of days for them to really get interested. I think that snails like it if the plant material starts to decay a little bit first. That is why I often only find holes in my older plant leaves and not new growth.