What snails are the best.

[Hagermanfd]

I want to put some snails in my tank to help clean it and just add some interesting life in it. Anybody know of any good ones, also do they leave a trail of slime if they travel on the glass?

[SmallFishi]

Apple Snails I LOVE mine... they have tons of personality tons...
They are so fun...
I have 3 check them out,
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95553
I got them from Pixie on this board if you are in Canada I would highly recommend her snails.. :)
Mine love veggies, shrimp pellets, spirulina discs, zuccini and anything else they can get their feet on.. ;)
I have noticed them loving each other lately too.. but no eggs, i'm not sure how that all works with apple snails anyway.. but I know they are easy to control as they lay their eggs above the water and you can just take them out or keep them if you like...

[rsanz]

I would like to know this as well. If apple snails are heterosexual, then they may be the way to go in an attempt to control the population! But don't apple snails get HUGE?

[SmallFishi]

I'm pretty sure you need a male and a female Apple snail to produce offspring.
I think they get to be the size of a ping pong ball when full grown.
MightyQueenPixie will hopefully jump on this thread and help answer a little more accurately..

[jm1212]

you need two snails to make more snails, even though snails have both male and female organs.

i have a little tiny hitchhiker apple snail that i got with my schwartz's corydoras. he looked like a peice of gravel until he came out of his shell, and he hasnt grown alot and disappears and reappears frequently.

[poeticsky]

Apple Snails get ungodly huge almost the same size as a softball.
I have black, white, and gold mystery snails, and I think that they do a wonderful job at keeping the tank clean.
I've heard horror stories with Apple snails getting onto fish that sleep at the bottom of the tank, and sucking on them to death...
so I would try to stay away from them if you have smaller non agressive fish.

[Malbri]

ive heard they can get to the size of a softball, and just like worms, even tho they are hermaphidites, you need 2 different snails to get more

[rsanz]

Apple Snails get ungodly huge almost the same size as a softball.
I have black, white, and gold mystery snails, and I think that they do a wonderful job at keeping the tank clean.
I've heard horror stories with Apple snails getting onto fish that sleep at the bottom of the tank, and sucking on them to death...
so I would try to stay away from them if you have smaller non agressive fish.

Aren't Mystery Snails the same thing as Apple Snails?

[poeticsky]

yeah.. they are... and I just did a little more research on them and I would suggest to not get them either.. haha, they get tennis ball size. but ranshorm (sp?) snails get up to 2 inches. and they do a good job at cleaning, but mainly only algea and uneaten fish food, and dead fish...
sorry about my uneducated reply earlier.

[rsanz]

But are ramshorns asexual? Can they reproduce alone? That was the major appeal of the apple snails.

[SmallFishi]

They are all sold under mystery and apple snail but they have different latin names that is what you need to look for to get the right kind..
You need to get Pomacea bridgesii snails they are the ones I have they dont' damage plants and dont' get massive...

Pomacea canaliculata are the ones that get as big as soft balls and can eat all your plants etc...

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

It is best when referring to snails to use their latin names. "Mystery snail" or "apple snail" is used often, but often refers to different snails. I have seen sever different types of applesnail (Pomacea genus- Latin for apple) labeled as "mystery snails" Usually the only mystery isexactly what kind of snail it is!
Pomacea Bridgesii- Aka "brig" Available in many colours, max out at ping pong ball size, male or female, not hermaphtoditic or capable of self fertilization. Safe to keep with live plants.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/baycitybettas/DSC05468.jpg


Pomacea Cananiculata- aka "applesnail" or "channeled snail" Is the grand daddy. They can get huge and are VERY difficult to differentiate from a Brig when they are young. They can get basball sized (mine are about tennis ball sized) and the EAT EVERYTHING. Also non hermaphroditic or capable of self fertilization.
Here are some pics of "Speedy" when she was a BABY

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/baycitybettas/DSC02785.jpg http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/baycitybettas/DSC02769.jpg

Snails have had an undeserved bad rap for years. If you get the right snail for the right tank you will find them very enjoyable and interesting

[rsanz]

So the Pomacea Bridgesii seems to be the way to go! There are several lots on Aquabid.com selling blue varieties of Pomacea Bridgesii with cheap shipping costs.

Should I seriously consider getting a couple of these for my tanks?

[SmallFishi]

I would get one for your 10 gallon tank you will love it, I have 3 in my 55 gallon.
Make sure you ask that the shells are in good condition...

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

They are really great snails As long as your water has no ammo or nitrite and no agressive, nippy fish you are good to go. Calculate 1 snail per 2.5gals of open tank space.

[Corbin]

I have TONS of apple snails (Pomacea Bridgesii) and more on the way. but i dont know how to ship snails since i only have sold locally so if someone wants to tell me how :help: i will gladly sell some 2 people in canada. right now i only have Blue and Gold ones. the other colors are still eggs ;). they are cheap since i have 100s of em.

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

Join applesnail.net Lots of snail people from Canada on there. You will definitely make some connections.

[Hagermanfd]

anybody hear know a website to buy snails from, i have looked all over and nothing, i even called the lfs stores and they do not carry them. I'm stumped

[Hagermanfd]

nevermind got it.. thanks anyways