Goldfish and Snails: Is it worth the risk?

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Inka4040

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Mar 31, 2008
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Goldfish and Snails
Is it Worth the Risk?
By: Inka4040



Over the past few days, there has been much discussion over the sustainability of keeping goldfish and various species of snails together in an aquarium setting. Though it is certainly a combination that can work, there are many reasons why caution is necessary. The purpose of this article is not to dissuade one from trying to attempt such a combination, but to explore the risks present to the health and well being of both animals when such a mix is being considered.

Very often, when this topic is discussed, it is framed only in terms of the danger snails face in the presence of goldfish. Generally ignored however, is the fact that goldfish also face debilitating, even mortal injury at the hands of their snail tankmates. A quick google search with the words goldfish, stuck, and mouth, will return all sorts of hits, involving everything from pebbles to cory cats, even otocinclus. The simple fact is, if it fits in your goldfish’s mouth, there is a very real possibility that it will at some point, end up in there. The problems occur when something is small enough to get in, but just big enough not to be easily extricated. Often in these cases, if the fish is unable to free the object itself, keeper intervention becomes necessary. Pulling the object out via tweezers is usually the only solution, and items can sometimes cause even greater damage on the way out. It is not uncommon for fish who have been through such traumas to die, even after the blockages have been removed. Thus, for the safety of your goldfish, they should only be kept with snails small and smooth enough not to pose a threat (read: no MTS), or entirely too large to feasibly fit into their mouths. Additionally, one must be just as cognizant of spreading disease when adding new snails to a system as with new fish. The same quarantine rules must apply. Though snails bred and raised by responsible hobbyists are safer than pond raised snails, one must always be cautious when adding new stock.

So one can see that keeping goldfish safe in the company of snails is a relatively easy task. Unfortunately, keeping snails safe in the company of goldfish can be significantly more complicated. The danger that goldfish present to snails is not one borne of a desire to eat them, but rather a desire to find out if they are indeed edible. Goldfish explore their worlds through their mouths, and new or unfamiliar things are often nipped at. This does not equate to aggression on the goldfish’s part, but it is difficult to picture a snail rationalizing why it is being bitten. Beyond that, and perhaps more importantly, is the issue of ensuring that both parties get enough to eat. Goldfish are notoriously greedy, powerful, and efficient feeders. This might equate to an abundance of food for obligate algae eaters, but for the pomacea type snails, who have pretty serious metabolic needs, this can be a double edged sword. Beyond being unable to compete effectively against the goldfish for the same food resources, their stress reactions to rough treatment can also come into play. “Stress in general, especially for bridgesii snails really limits their quality of life. I would be concerned the boisterous and energetic qualities of goldfish as well as their tendency to explore with their mouths would make cohabitating a more beneficial experience for the goldfish than the snail. I don't even really recommend keeping snails with boisterous tankmates like barbs, danios, etc, because the snails tend to be less outgoing (MsJinkzd).” Most importantly, stressed snails are also much less likely to be able/willing to feed properly, even further exacerbating concerns over getting them the proper nutrition they require.

As you can see, the issues involved in keeping goldfish and snails together are a bit more complicated than they might seem to the novice. One cannot simply throw a few snails in with a few goldfish, wait a couple weeks, and proclaim that all is well and will always be as such. “But I watch my tank all the time, and have never seen my goldies harass their snaily friends!” It’s important to remember that most of the time we are near our goldfish tanks, their attention is quite fixated on us, and the possibility of an impending meal. Just because one does not witness goldfish on snail harassment, does not mean it does not happen. A fish that has just been fed may have little to no interest in his snail tankmates, but the same fish after a day or two of fasting might have a very different reaction to a brig’s waving antennae. Though it is quite unlikely that a goldfish would simply predate on a snail beyond a given size, the possibility for harassment is very much there, and considering the quality of life issues that snails face when housed with goldfish, as well as the danger issues goldfish face when housed with snails, one really has to ask themselves: Is it worth the risk?
 
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