stupid little snails?

[born2lovefish]

How do I get rid of the little snails that found their way into my tank with some live plants I bought? Like I said I have live plants and do not want to kill them, but I want the snails gone? Will one clown loach do the trick or is there a better way?

[test4echo]

I told a LFS about this problem and they said to soak the plants in lime, but there is a product out called "Lime-It" by Aquatronics that kills the snails and their eggs before they overpopulate your tank.

[Liz]

you could sell them on ebay as food.

Or mail them to me.

[daveedka]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50705


Read this article and replies, there is some good information on snails control as well as snails in general.

I told a LFS about this problem and they said to soak the plants in lime, but there is a product out called "Lime-It" by Aquatronics that kills the snails and their eggs before they overpopulate your tank.

I still do not see how Calcium Chloride will kill snails, especially considering how slowly it dissolves in water.

Dave

[wesleydnunder]

How big is your tank? Clowns get big and grow fast if properly kept. Kuhli loaches will also eat snails. I've got ramshorns and the little football-shaped pond snails. Their populations are dwindling and I regularly see one of my kuhli loaches sucking on one of the shells.

Mark

[test4echo]

I still do not see how Calcium Chloride will kill snails, especially considering how slowly it dissolves in water.

Dave
You are supposed to soak the plants in lime when you get back from the fish store in a seperate container for a while, then rinse them off and THEN put them in the tank.

[daveedka]

You are supposed to soak the plants in lime when you get back from the fish store in a seperate container for a while, then rinse them off and THEN put them in the tank.


Lime is Calcium Carbonate (CaCo3) with maybe a little Magnesium Carbonate (MgCo3) Which is the same thing that makes up snail shells. If you were to powder your plants in it it might kill the eggs, I doubt it would kill the snails even in the powdered form. If you mix it with water, it dissolves very slowly and will only change the water parrameters to a point. I know this because I add lime to my snail tanks to provide calcium for their shells. I plan to get some "lime-It" this week and see what else may be in it. But lime definately does not make a lot of sense as a snail killer.

Alum is often used and reccomended. Is Their any chance your LFS got Confused???

Dave

[mvigor]

Maybe they mean LIME.

http://www.thaitaste.org/images/ingredient29.jpg

[kkifer]

Here's my method: I have a piece of clear rigid tubing a little longer than the height of my tank. I put one finger over the top end, plunge the tube into the tank above the snail, lift my finger... the water and snail rush up into the tube. Replace finger, lift out, deposit snail elsewhere. Sometimes they are stuck pretty tightly and you can nudge them loose. I get my snail on the first try about half the time. The reason this works for me is that I can do it quickly whenever I see a snail, without the hassle of reaching my hand into the tank. My 55 gal was getting overrun with these guys and now you have to look hard to find one. I know they are still there and would re-populate if I let them, so I pull out every one I can reach with the tube.

Hope this helps,
Kathy

[carpguy]

Will one clown loach do the trick or is there a better way?
All loaches kill snails. Big loaches, little loaches.

Loaches are social fish: there should be at least 3 or 4 of them.

If you like loaches, get a handful of small loaches. You'll never see another snail.

Otherwise try a small plate with a piece of lettuce on it at the bottom of the tank overnight. Or so I've heard (I have small loaches: haven't seen a snail in years).

[BillyBones]

argg leave the little guys alone. their natural cleaners. GOod kids i say, let um be.

[born2lovefish]

I already have 5 clown loaches in my 75 gallon. They are about 3 inches and I do not want to put them in a little 29 gallon nor do I want to separate them. That is why I asked if I bought one if it would do the trick. I have tried to siphon them out with a water change, but I do believe they can reproduce on their own. They might be natures cleaners, but they also like to nibble on my plants. I believe copper will kill them, but copper is not good for plants either. As far as the lime theory out there, I have never heard of it. I think I might try just getting a clown loach and letting him do the trick. Thanks to all.

[FishManIAM]

:devil: :sim: snails **** me off too!