If you can get mystery snails to breed like crazy, I need to know your secret!jdcreigh said:
v/r, N-A
algea eater
- Thread starter jdcreigh
- Start date
v/r, N-A
A CAE is a Chinese Algae Eater, and you do not want one!! They can get big, and the bigger they get the less algae they eat and the more aggresive they become. I finally had to get rid of mine after he killed everything I tried to keep in the tank with him, even my huge tennis ball sized snail. CAE are not a good idea for a 10g or a community period.
CAEs (Chinese algae eaters) do a great job of cleaning algae (I always see mine active) but as mentioned they can be a bit aggressive. I have one in my 37 and he chases my 4 gouramis around occasionally, but he leaves my adult angel alone. He harassed my girlfriend's male betta to no end, however, which is why he was put into the 37. 
I've read they can get big, but this is uncommon.
I keep an otocinclus in my 3g betta tank and he does a great job with algae as well. For a 10g I'd add two otos. They're only about 2 bucks each and you can get them at the "big box" pet stores. My betta flares and chases them from time, but they're much faster than he is and he doesn't seem to mind the excitement.
I've read they can get big, but this is uncommon.I keep an otocinclus in my 3g betta tank and he does a great job with algae as well. For a 10g I'd add two otos. They're only about 2 bucks each and you can get them at the "big box" pet stores. My betta flares and chases them from time, but they're much faster than he is and he doesn't seem to mind the excitement.
CAE is a Chinese Algae Eater and they are terrific for cleaning but they are aggressive and get more aggressive the bigger they get, which is about 6 or 7 inches in captivity. If I were you I would not get one.
I have a blue and an ivory apple snail that i purchased as "mystery" snails. They have been breeding great for me. Already 2 nests hatched since april. I haven't done anything specific for them. I give them peices of potato and lettuce every so often. Drop them an algae wafer every few days. They live in a 10 gallon with 1 male betta and a large peice of driftwood. They love the driftwood as well.Native American said:If you can get mystery snails to breed like crazy, I need to know your secret!
v/r, N-A
Jdcreigh, if you only buy one snail and it is a "mystery" snail(this is what the LFS will call it) you wont have any babies. You run a higher risk of infecting your tank with tons of snails every time you put a new plant in. Your general mystery aka apple snails will only eat dead plant matter. They will take care of your algae also. For a quick fix, I would buy the sponge and just scrape the sides. I dont know what to tell you about your plants and such without using a snail. Most of your algae eaters will grow too large for a 10g tank.
