Betta and snails

[Alpha7Bravo]

I recently was "graced" with some snails that came with plants I bought at my LFS. They don't seem like too much of a problem yet(It has been about 3 weeks since I noticed them). I have seen six at most and they aren't harming the plants. Infact, they seem to be doing a better job than me when it comes to cleaning some hard to reach places at the back of the tank.

I have read that labyrinth fish, such as bettas enjoy eating a snail now and again, so I plucked one out of my 20 gallon and dropped it into my betta's tank. The snail didn't last 5 minutes. The snail was climbing up the heater when the betta noticed. The betta knocked the snail to the gravel and sucked it out of its shell. The betta looked quite pleased with himself afterwards. :Angel:

How often should I drop a snail in my betta's tank? Should I remove the shell afterwards? I doubt I'll run out of snails if what I have been reading is correct. :read:

Thanks in advance!

--A7B

 

[Flying_Diamond]

I would probably drop one in the tank once a week, and I would take the shells out during the next water change, I don't think it'd be a priority... wouldn't do much/anything to the water in just a week... I don't really know though, that's just my $.02. My betta won't touch snails, so be lucky yours will, and can keep your snail population under control. =]

 

[Mgamer20o0]

i would just toss a few in there.