How to get rid of snails

[69steveo69]

I have had a constant battle with trying to rid my tank of snails. They came unexpectedly when I bought some plants and I cannot seem to get them completely gone. They are the small snails with about 3 or 4 different shape shells. Just yesterday I did a 30% watch change and cleaned the gravel and picked about 30 out of my 55gallon tank, then today I took out 12 more I found. I do have 1 clown loach that is about 1.5 inches long at this time but I don't think he is doing anything to help. Please help!!!

[LovemyPuffer]

What other fish are in the tank? You can take out anything scaleless or salt-sensitive and add about a teaspoon of salt per gallon.

[cellodaisy]

I have a turtle who will take care of them right quick. Of course, she'll also take care of your fish... :P

[odinthejd]

Take a piece of lettuce and put it in the water and after 3-4 hours pull it out and dispose of. If you have lots of snails you will see because the lettuce will be covered!

[Death Pony]

I found a method that worked pretty well. Snail shells deteriorate in acidic water. Drop the pH to around 6.0-6.5 for 1-2 months, they'll practically dissolve. The fish you have will determine whether this is practical or not.

[Hollygirl]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189223&highlight=snail+trap

This is a snail trap that I came up with to rid my tanks of pest snails. It might work for you too.

[gt1009]

The snails like to lay eggs up by the waterline if they are pond snails. Take the lid off your tank and look for a jelly-ball kinda thing with white dots in it. Take all of them out and you can manage them pretty well.

[cellodaisy]

The snails like to lay eggs up by the waterline if they are pond snails.

Really? Someone needs to inform my pond snails. They lay eggs all over the place! I've seen those jelly wads stuck to the glass in the middle of the tank. :p

[katana1200]

Spotted puffer! You get a new fish and the new fish gets a constant diet of unwanted snails. Problem solved....at least in my world that's how it would go.

[SidtheMonkey]

Loaches like snails.

[fishycat]

You should also reduce the amount of food, this will keep the current population in check. If you're not squeamish, I've heard of smashing the snails to let your fish eat the flesh. What is your stock?

[pbmax]

Reducing feedings and physically removing them are definitely the best way to go. However, if you're lazy like I am, you might try some assassin snails. They eradicated my pest snail population in short order. After that, they survive on the same stuff the other snails did. The best part is that assassins are quite slow breeders and you can sell any babies that result.

[Wateveryousay]

Sorry if i am to off topic, but i enjoy these snails, are there any downsides to them other than their looks?

[coolbettas]

I have a 220g tank full of little snails and I hate it! Put 2 big bala sharks in there and they took care of the snails..... can't find any snail there after a week... hooray!

[pbmax]

Sorry if i am to off topic, but i enjoy these snails, are there any downsides to them other than their looks?

Nope, not at all. :) They do tend to reproduce extremely quickly if you overfeed, but that's about it.

[Rugh1982]

they also tend to eat alot of plants (when in great numbers)
you can try dwarf loach (Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki (Botia sidthimunki)
i got 6 of them, they cleaned my tank in 2 days.
the puffers are also great.
next time you buy plants, use bleech or kali to disinfect it.

[pbmax]

I've never seen my pond snails eat live plants, even when I had too many; they glide right over the leaves, munching on biofilm as they go. They'll snack on dead plant pieces for sure.

[blue2fyre]

I've never had any of my snails eat healthy plants. Even were they were in high numbers.

[fishycat]

:iagree:

I had a small african fern that had a bunch of gunk and rot on the rhizome. I threw it into my bigger tank, and the ramshorns cleaned off all the rotten stuff but left everything else.

[MYname]

few things you can do
#1)get a jar put blanched carrots,zucini,lettuc, cabage watever in it
leave that in your tank over night
remove and repeat
#2)feed you tank alot less, most fish can go atleast a week without food same with snails but they need that food to make babies so only feed your fish a few times a week and clean up the leftovers
#3) add something thatle eat them get a nother clown or yoyo loach
#4)check stores plant tanks for snails before you buy

[bluekrissyspike]

if i hated all my little snails i'd get an assassin snail.

[Taysius]

I've never had any of my snails eat healthy plants. Even were they were in high numbers.

The only plant that I have had trouble with snails eating is my Watersprite. They tend to munch on the new leaves that come up leaving just the little stalk to grow. I figure something must be extra tasty about baby watersprite leaves.