Sick of snails...

  • Get the NEW AquariaCentral iOS app --> http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1227181058 // Android version will be out soon!

bmiller9735

AC Members
Aug 6, 2011
14
0
0
48
East Texas
Real Name
Brandi
I ve got a question, is there any way to get rid of snails in a highly planted tank with cherry shrimp? I ordered some live plants from someone on aquabid and they must have been covered in snail eggs. I was guaranteed no snails. Well, I have more snails than fish. On one tank (no invertebrates) I used "had a snail" and overnight all my baby platies and my russian red lace males had died. I carefully measured out the dosage so I'm very concerned about what to do. If anyone has any suggestions I would be happy to hear from them.
Thanks,
Brandi
 

kgymn

AC Members
Jun 23, 2008
73
0
0
I have found the best way, in my unplanted tank, to deal with snails has been food restriction. I inherited my tank from work, where it was overrun by snails- and the fish were over fed. Once I brought them home, I became very careful about how much I fed them. Once a day, a small pinch (I had 6 fish at that point in time) and within weeks the snails were still there, but in MUCH smaller quantities.

Not sure if this will work in a planted tank, but worth a try to cut back the feeding for a bit.

~Katy
 

maverickbr77

la-te-da
Jan 26, 2009
351
0
16
Lowville, NY
Real Name
Adam
The best solution I have found is to get some more snails. I put a couple assassin snails in one of my tanks a while back and they have greatly reduced the "pest" snail population.
 

maverickbr77

la-te-da
Jan 26, 2009
351
0
16
Lowville, NY
Real Name
Adam
All reports I have seen say they don't touch healthy shrimp. I am throwing some in with my yellows and greens within the next week and will be keeping an eye on it.
 

myswtsins

Global Moderator
Jun 15, 2008
3,556
390
92
41
Central NJ
Real Name
Jen
Camera Used
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
I have always been able to control them with reduced feeding but I have seen the the bait and remove method works too . Put a roman lettuce leaf in the tank at night and early the next morning (before lights on or the room is filled with light) remove the leaf and it should be covered in snails. Assassin snails do work but I hate adding a critter to remove a critter, unless you actually like assassin snails (which I do!).
 

digitalphrage

oh god how did this get here i am n
Echo, echo, echo.

I'm coming in to echo the other comments and lend my own anecdotal evidence & suggestions to the mix.

A) Eliminate & reduce the snails' food source(s). Starve the suckers out. Reduce feeding of the fish so that there's no extra food for the snails and less food that's being metabolized into nutrients that fuel algae growth (which the snails also eat). For awhile, you may try reducing the amount and/or duration of light on the tank. Your goal is to provide enough light for the plants you want in your tank, but as little as possible to reduce algae growth.

B) Trap'em. Catch as many snails as you can by hand. You can lure them with veggies like squash or algae wafers, then when they amass to feed, scoop them out. Or just whenever you walk over to the tank, pull a few snails out. Finally, if you see the eggs, scrape them off the glass, decorations, and plants.

C) Assassin snails, assassin snails, assassin snails. Yes, it's more snails, but holy crap do they work. And the best part is, they don't reproduce as fast as "pest" snails, so it's unlikely that you'd ever have a population explosion. In my tanks, a pair can usually consume on average 1 pest snail per day. Doesn't sound like much, but believe me, before long, you'll have no pest snails. Also, in my experience, they do not harm fry, nor do they harm shrimp (including cherry shrimp). Literally, the only creatures that need to worry are other snails.
 

authmal

Pseudonovice
Aug 4, 2011
2,621
62
51
Phoenix, AZ
The best solution I have found is to get some more snails. I put a couple assassin snails in one of my tanks a while back and they have greatly reduced the "pest" snail population.
If your tank is large enough, and you like them enough, a group of loaches, such as clowns (can get to be about 6 inches, and need schools, so must be in a pretty sizable tank) can do quite a number on a pest snail infestation, and they're pretty cool fish in their own right. Other types of loaches are snail eaters, too, but not all of them, so you can research some kinds you like, and see if they're compatible with your tank set up.
 

Danny-O

How do I change my user title?
Mar 4, 2006
212
0
16
Pittsburgh, PA
www.howmanyfish.com
Onions and butter, lightly sauteed.

But seriously, if we're talking pond snails, I've found that limiting the feeding helps a lot, and keeps the tank cleaner. If they do get a little populous, I crush them against the glass as a treat for the fish. Kinda sad, but circle of life, etc.
 
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store