Is my haustrum being a wierdo?

[laurenrocksth]

I got a pretty big haustrum a week or so ago in a trade (locally). I was then told here that they eat plants like crazy, making me think that I couldn't put him in my 55g planted tank.

He's been in my 10g QT since I got him which is full of plant rejects... java moss, ferns, ludwigia stems. He hasn't touched a single one of them. I've been giving him lettuce and algae wafers which he eats voraciously. What's the deal???

 

[Reframer]

Maybe just raised on those foods so now he has a preference for them.

 

[bluekrissyspike]

mine likes to eat water sprite. i tried some other things but he didn't touch them

 

[Morledzep]

haustrum snails only eat dead and decaying plant materials.. and steal a shrimp from the big fish now and then.

they are ideal for planted tanks because they keep all the dead stuff trimmed off and keep the plants looking their best.

 

[Lupin]

The strange thing is msjinkzd's experience was the opposite. Her haustrum obliterated all her prized plants where the haustrum was placed and this is the exact reason USDA still bans the haustrums from interstate shipping. I guess this comes down to personal preferences of individual snails although the canaliculata complex are no different and will eat everything in sight.

Lauren, you did hope you want the haustrum in a planted tank and you got exactly what you wished for.:laugh:

 

[laurenrocksth]

Yeah... I'm pretty excited

 

[Morledzep]

i love the haustrum snails.. they are awesome to watch, and there is never a speck of algae in their tank.

i used to have them in all of my tanks, but peacock bass and haustrum snails don't mix well after peacock bass get big.

 

[Paulzie67]

Does anyone still have P. haustrum? They do lay Green Eggs, correct? I have tons of P. canaliculata and M. cornuarietis but want to get some P. haustrum