View Full Version : Should I get a snail?
Lychee85
03-15-2010, 8:36 AM
I have a 30g tank with 2 small orandas, a black moor, and a ryukin. They don't produce a ton of waste especially since I feed them every other day or so. I vacuum the gravel about once a month and there's really not much waste compared to the time I had one giant oranda. I wanted to add another fish but I would have an overcrowding problem once they grew a bit larger so I was thinking about getting a snail-- kills 2 birds with 1 stone really. I've never had a snail in a tank so I don't really know much about them. I've just heard stories about them breeding so easily and quickly. They can't reproduce asexually can they?? I really don't want a loach or any kind of bottom dweller because they creep me out!
Tay690
03-15-2010, 9:35 AM
some can produce asexually
some need a male and female
Snails are great if they can be kept under control
I have a 15g with guppies that breed out of control and this tank is cleaner than all of my other tanks (even though the others are understocked if anything)
The only reason I think that tank is so clean is strictly because of the snails
People always comment when they come to my house
"I've never seen a tank so clean and active before"
I can't help but laugh when I hear that...that tank is overstocked to the point I'm moving all the guppies into a 29g just to give them more space
Snails are great...they keep everything NICE AND CLEAN!
James0816
03-15-2010, 11:22 AM
Question is...do you want a snail? If so, get you one. But...If you don't want to be over run by them or what have you...make sure not to get Pond snails. These breed asexually.
Briggs would be a good choice. You need one and female for offspring.
Just one thing about brigs/diffusa though. I usually don't hear good things about goldfish leaving snails alone - often hear of them picking at them so much that they quit coming out at all, and starve to death. Less extreme is that they get their tentacles nipped - but is really unfair to the snail. Now of course, that's a generality (and applies to all snails, not just brigs/diffusa) and there are always exceptions - so if you decided to get a brigs/diffusa, or any snail really, just have a backup plan in case it DOES get harassed so you can rehome it somewhere safer.
Also, there's an article on this forum about goldies and snails living together here (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195314).