Cold Water Snails?

bearyconfused

AC Members
Jan 9, 2005
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Hello...hoping someone can point me in the right direction or might even know off hand if you can get snails for a cold water tank. My parents have a 29 gallon heated tank and a 5 gallon with a gold fish in it and was wanting to get a couple snails for the 5 gallon as they have them in the heated tank. Does anyone know off hand if they will survive in an unheated tank. Thank you for your time. Have a great day!
 
Chances are that the goldfish will eat the snails or at least harrass them a lot. I have common ramshorn and common pond snails in my coldwater white cloud tank and they thrive (as seen by their numbers). The tank temp is bewteen 68-72 F. But they are small snails and I doubt they would last long with goldies. Cheap to try though as most LFS's give them away.
 
snails actually live longer and are healthier in the range of 70 degrees. they can live around 3 years, as opposed to being in mid-80 tanks where they will only live for a year or so. it doesn't hurt them, just speeds up the metabolism and therefore the life cycle.
in reference to the goldfish, depends on the size of the snails and the individual personality of the fish. my moor will eat all the tiny babies he can find but doesn't touch anything bigger than 1/4 inch. my boyfriend's goldfish were moved inside to the QT/snail tank when the pond pump broke down, and promptly ate every single snail that was in there, up to 3/4 inch. oh, and there were hundreds. . . .

as a side note, let them know that the 5g isn't an appropriate long-term home for any kind of goldfish, as many get up to or over 10 inches long.
 
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