100s of snails!!!

A

adamber

AC Members
Jun 26, 2004
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UK - Hertfordshire
www.adamandrob.co.uk
Hi All,

I have had my tank (with fish) for about a month now... all of a sudden I have 100s of snails!!!!

I never bought any so I have no idea where they came from! Are they ok? should I get rid of some? will they effect the balance of my tank!!!?

Thanks guys &gals
Adam
 
They probably came in as eggs on a plant or something.

No, they won't hurt your tank, but they do contribute to the bio-waste. The population grows to the amount of food they avaliable. Feeding less will help cut down their numbers.

The easiest way to keep their numbers down is to put a shotglass or something into the tank with piece of lettuce or something before lights out. Come back in the middle of the night or the morning and pull out the lettuce which should be teeming with snails.
 
Agreed with kikuchiyo, They won't hurt anything, and they can be captured. I like snails, IMO they are a healthy part of my ecosystem. They clean up some algea and scavenge food, they are great indicator of feeding habits and maintenance. they are virtually impossible to totally irradicate, but it can be done with dilligent removal and execution. If you can stand the crunch, smash some against the glass your fish will love them. almost all fish like snails, but only certain breeds will eat them when they are in their shell. On the note of snail eating fish, If there is one that fits your stocking plan great, but if not I don't reccomend buying a fish simply to eat your snails, unless you have good home to put it in when it's done. If the population gets out of control, it indicates that you are feeding too much or not doing enough maintenance. adjust your routine accordingly and the population will stay in check.
 
I've heard most gouramis eat snails but (as far as what I've heard anecdotally) I don't think they're as gung ho about it as other fish (i.e., they don't eat many or won't bother if they're well fed).
 
Agreed, Some gourami's, andbeatta's will eat snails, but not like a puffer or SA cichlid might. My firemouth and dempsey are ruthless snail killers with no regard for my desire to have snails in the tank :D
 
They do, but clown loaches get huge and need to be in groups of 3+.

Getting clown loaches just to clean snails is a bad idea and bad fishkeeping.
 
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