another snail question.

[PoorChipotle]

yooo, tomorrow im planning on going
to a local creek to harvest some snails for the
planted 75g. i believe the snails im getting are
trapdoor livebearers? are those bad on plants?
ive had them before, but i dont think i payed enough special
attention to them, as i caught them gnawing on some leaves in
an old aquarium thats no-longer set up.

thanks!
-andrew.

 

[Lupin]

The trapdoors (Viviparus sp.) are fine in planted setups however these are coldwater species. If your temperature fluctuates, they will cease to move around and withdraw in their shells until conditions become favorable for them. Trapdoors prefer organic wastes (dead and decaying plant parts preferably) and algae to eat. Feeding them other supplements can be challenging.

 

[msjinkzd]

My biggest concern about wild collection is that they can harbor nematodes and sometimes leeches. I would recommend qt'ing them for some time before adding them to a tank with fish. Trapdoors can be difficult to keep in a tank environment as stated above as well.

 

[PoorChipotle]

hmm, thanks guys. i was planning on qt'ing.
i didnt realise these were coldwater...
dangit.

 

[aquacutlure]

my trapdoors do fine at 84 degrees in my outdoor koi pond i always see them speeding along and grazing my algae. They also seem to breed like crazy at my local fish store ten gallon. snail tank.

 

[Arakkis]

just make sure they aren't new zealand mud snails.. they proliferate like crazy