Snail recommendation

[StreetCypher]

Hi all,
I'd like some recommendations on a cool snail that won't eat my live plants.
TIA.

[Swimfins]

LOL don't get a black apple snail. He grazed my plants down in one night. I thought there'd be some loss, but not chainsaw damage. :(

[chunksofpoooo]

MTS are good snails and they're generally pretty cheap.

Im not sure, but gold inca snails might be ok as well if there is enough algae (really not sure though)

[StreetCypher]

I think theres enough algae. I let it grow and take over the back wall of my tank. It looks nice and natural against my black background especially behind my plants.

[Blinky]

I've got an albino apple snail (Pomacea bridgesii ) and she's pretty good about not eating the plants. Once or twice I've caught her with a leaf in her mouth, but as long as I keep her well fed (she LOVES Hikari wafers) she leaves even the soft, tasty Hygro alone. The downside of her relative non-interest in plants is that it extends to algae - she doesn't eat algae to any significant degree.
If you're looking for a single snail that won't breed in your tank, apples are great - you have to have both sexes for them to breed, so if you only buy one, you'll only ever have one. Mine has laid eggs on the cover glass, but since there's no male to fertilize them, I'm not overrun with snails.
Apple snails (depending on the type) can get as big as a softball, and if you're looking for a 'pet' snail, I recommend them - just be prepared to return it if you get a rogue like Swimfins did ;)

[Swimfins]

LOl I loved him. But I like my plants too. He didn't touch the swords, he ate one of the rotting leaves, but left the plant alone. But he devoured my big green leafy one. (I don't know what plant it is, its green but reddish leaves at the top where it gets more light) He was a about 2 inches round.

[happychem]

Malasian tumpet snails (MTS) like chunky recommended are good. So are ramshorn snails.

[daveedka]

My vote would go to red ramshorns, they wont eat your plants, they are really cool, they will cross the street to eat algea ( not literally they do stay in the tank very well), and they grow to a reasonable size (3/4"- 1"). MTS's are great as well, but I find them far less enjoyable to watch as they spend most of their daylight hours underground. They are also IME very slow with the cleanup stuff. Of course you could get MTS's and ramshorns they will live together.
dave

[Swimfins]

I'm gonna look for those redramshorns...

[Indigo]

*hijack alert*

I was looking in my tank this morning to see how my little Oto (gonna call him VW for now) was doing, (his buddy, Edsel didn't last long, poor guy... anyway) and I found me a snail!! I was so excited! Too little to ID though, maybe 1/8" now. I think he snuck in on my mystery plant :D yay.

[Swimfins]

Hmmm, freebies are best. Don't vacuum him out lol :)

[StreetCypher]

Alright, thanks guys.
I'll check out the MTS and red ramshorn, although i don't recall ever seeing any at my LFSs (the red ramshorns).

[russjet]

so MTS doesnt stand for multiple tank syndrome

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

sorry couldnt help myself

[daveedka]

so MTS doesnt stand for multiple tank syndrome

I think it does, but we use MTS malaysian Trumpet snail to confuse our wives.
:dance :dance :dance

[daveedka]

Just another thought, when cruising the plant tanks look closely at the snails, any small snail with a curled shell (like a rams horn) is potentially what you are looking for. they hitchhike just like the pond snails, MTS have the curled ice cream cone shape going. both of these are recogniseable at a very small size.
dave

[Indigo]

THen I think I've lucked out with a Ramshorn snail, I saw him/her this morning, but is probably somewhere hiding now.

Yay :D