Like some, I have snails in my planted tank. They seem harmless enough. I understand the source and how to control them. What problems can they cause in the long run if any? Thanks!
Scott
Scott
What problem(s) do snails cause?
- Thread starter scottracy
- Start date
Seaman
Shrimp gumbo, shrimp salad etc...
If you are talking about pond snails, MTS's or Ramshorns, they probably will never hurt your plants. Very large pnd snails are said to sometimes eat delicate plants, but only the largest of them. They will eat any dead leaves very quickly and eat algea and other debis in the tank.
Some of the larger snails will eat plants, and you should be cautious of them.
As far as dying under something and stinking, I would imagine that would only apply to the larger snails as well. Even my Red Ramshorns which get fairly large don't create a stink if I don't find them and remove them quickly. there are always a few empty shells when I dismantle things in my tank. And never an odd smell from the tank.
There are a lot of people who keep snails longterm in their planted tanks with no problems at all. Understanding how to control them is the key.
dave
Some of the larger snails will eat plants, and you should be cautious of them.
As far as dying under something and stinking, I would imagine that would only apply to the larger snails as well. Even my Red Ramshorns which get fairly large don't create a stink if I don't find them and remove them quickly. there are always a few empty shells when I dismantle things in my tank. And never an odd smell from the tank.
There are a lot of people who keep snails longterm in their planted tanks with no problems at all. Understanding how to control them is the key.
dave
What about those tiny ones that came along with my plants? Are they bad for a planted tank? I've got about 10 in mine. I clear about 6 of them out every week. They don't seem to be doing any damage, though. Am I missing something?
No, as daveedka said, common pond, common ramshorns, and MTS are essentially harmless to plants. The hitchhikers on live plants tend to be one or more of those snail types. The stories of such eating healthy plants are, well, mistaken.
if you have any fish, they can sometimes introduce diseases. i am suspicious that my 2 ramshorn snails that were brought in on plants, have given my angelfish the "worm cataract disease". 
that said, if you have already had the snails for a while and have not noticed any problems with the fish, then you are probably fine. as i understand it the snails are a temporary intermediate for some parasites and the bugs would have to find the fish quickly or they would die.
that said, if you have already had the snails for a while and have not noticed any problems with the fish, then you are probably fine. as i understand it the snails are a temporary intermediate for some parasites and the bugs would have to find the fish quickly or they would die.
Of course, fish can bring in disease as well. All the more reason to quarantine everything. To quote RTR, "Fish, snails, driftwood, whatever"
What diseases are caused by snails, fish wood etc?
I've never quarantined a thing, I've never had a disease in 15 years.
I stock reasonable levels, keep a good home for the fish, do weekly water changes w/lots of plants etc.
I've yet to have ich or anything in over 15 years.
Snails are great for planted tanks, just as long as they are the smaller ones, dime size or smaller, MTS, Ramshorn, or pond snails(Physa etc).
Some folks do not like over populations of these, but those folks over feed their fish and then the snails eat it and produce a population explosion.
But a large population of algae eating snails is not a bad thing.
You can quarantine if you want to if you have pricey fish.
It will not hurt, I've never found a reason to do it personally in a well run plant tank.
Regards,
Tom Barr
I've never quarantined a thing, I've never had a disease in 15 years.
I stock reasonable levels, keep a good home for the fish, do weekly water changes w/lots of plants etc.
I've yet to have ich or anything in over 15 years.
Snails are great for planted tanks, just as long as they are the smaller ones, dime size or smaller, MTS, Ramshorn, or pond snails(Physa etc).
Some folks do not like over populations of these, but those folks over feed their fish and then the snails eat it and produce a population explosion.
But a large population of algae eating snails is not a bad thing.
You can quarantine if you want to if you have pricey fish.
It will not hurt, I've never found a reason to do it personally in a well run plant tank.
Regards,
Tom Barr