View Full Version : carnivorous water snails
hi guys :help:
I was wondering about fresh water snails that you put in your fish tank. They are pretty big and i have one in my gold fish tank, but recently it has killed two of my gold fish :mad2: . It has been getting on them and sucking their fins off and nipping their scales off and killing them. I have had one before and it didnt do this to my fish and i was wondering if you could tell me why its doing this or is it just this one snail if i should just get a different one. :thm:
Thanks
From Hannah
Teelie
03-01-2006, 7:57 PM
What species of snail is this? A healthy fish wouldn't be a prey item for a snail and snails don't generally prey on fish either. They scavenge off dead and dying ones however. There are dozens of freshwater snails in the trade alone though the most common are Apples of which none are predatory.
hi again,
I looked it up and the apple snail does look like the snail in my tank.They were both healthy fish until he chewed their fins off :sad: .Its deffently him killing them because we found one dead in the tank with all its fins chewed off and then a week later i looked in the tank and he was on on the bottom of the tank and it was all chewed and bitten so i pulled it off it and the fish was still alive but couldnt swim so i left it for two mins and it just died its really strange but it is the snail doing it. :huh:
thanks :)
justintoxicated
03-01-2006, 8:50 PM
sounds to me more like your fish are dying, and the snails are scavenging. When my fish died or are laying on bottem, thats when I see my snails trying to scavenge off them, eating fins etc, same with my ghost shrimp...
I'm not sure how an apple snail could attack a fish, they arent the fastest creatures.
racingjason
03-01-2006, 8:50 PM
The snail is doing the eating but not the killing. Something is making your fish sick allowing the snail to get them while they are laying on the bottom.
UncaBret
03-01-2006, 9:05 PM
How big is the tank and what fish do you have in it?
well medium size prob foot and a half wide it is one of those hexigon tanks
yes the applesnail CAN'T predate on healthy fish!!!! your fish may be alive, but they are sick, and slow enough for the snail to start eating!!! they would die anyway, the snail is just speeding things up a bit.
well ok so what fish would you reccomend for a house tank
Roan Art
03-01-2006, 9:39 PM
goldfish are pond fish, and they will only live a short time in a home aquarium, unless you provide at least 60 gallons for a couple (or just one)
goldfish can get as big as koi (depending on the species) and should be treated as koi
id suggest either putting the goldfish in a pond, getting a VERY big tank, or selling back to the store and researching a new setup that will stay healthy
I'm sorry but this is not true. There are several different types of goldfish and many of them *are* suited for the home aquarium.
Koi grow to 3 FEET. Pond Comet and Shubunkins 12-24 inches. Fancy Goldfish from 8-10" and Very Fancy Goldfish from 6-8".
One should never mix Pond, Fancy or Very Fancy goldfish. They do not like fish that move slower than they do and will eventually kill them.
Pond goldfish such as comets and shubunkins should really not be kept in an aquarium. They DO need to be in a pond.
Fancy and Very Fancy goldfish are more than suited to home aquaria with the right environment. They need at least 20 gallons for the first fish -- 30 is better -- and 15-20 gallons for each fish thereafter. They also need their tanks doubled filtered as they produce a lot of waste.
So for two Fancy or Very Fancy goldfish you should ideally have a tank that is 30-45 gallons in size and with a filter rated for a 60-90 gallon tank.
Housed in this manner, and with regular water changes and the correct food, a Fancy or Very Fancy goldfish can live 20+ years in a home aquarium.
Roan
sharpie
03-01-2006, 9:42 PM
how many gallons is the tank?
RockabillyChick
03-01-2006, 9:42 PM
fancy goldfish are fine in home aquariums. you'd need a 30 gallon tank for one fancy goldfish, and 15 more gallons for every other fish after that (3 goldfish=60g)
otherwise, there are hundreds of freshwater fish of all sizes that are readily available and perfectly suited to the home aquarium. goldfish, however, are not, and belong in a pond.
well can you send me some pics or something of some othere fish that can be kept in a fresh water tank thanks
:dance:
fish_freak
03-01-2006, 10:04 PM
you really need to find out the size of your tank to decide what fish to keep in it. Also do you have a heater? Look in the Species Profile on this site there is tons of freshwater fish that are profiled there.
Lobo.
03-01-2006, 10:06 PM
o crap... i need to do more reasearch... thanks for that info guyes!
Hanna
03-01-2006, 10:16 PM
its prob about 15g
Hanna
03-01-2006, 10:24 PM
my tank is about 15g and yes i do have a heater but i dont use it but i could :dive2:
Roan Art
03-01-2006, 10:32 PM
o crap... i need to do more reasearch... thanks for that info guyes!
Well, I had to check the user name a couple of time 'cause I've never seen you post like that, so don't sweat it.
I only know that stuff cause my little guy wanted Orandas.
Roan
fish_freak
03-01-2006, 10:40 PM
15 Gal is to small for goldfish. Tetras would be good and possibly guppies or platy's?
earwick
03-01-2006, 10:57 PM
Ya some tetras would be nice
How about a really pretty betta with some snails or a few ottos and real plants?