I'm cluless when it comes to snails. Do they benefit the water/habitat in any way? or are they just there for the hell of it. lol thanks!
Do snails serve a purpose in a tank?
- Thread starter kyazh
- Start date
most species of snails in my opinion, put back at least as much crap as they eat. so the bottom line is that they really do not help 'clean up' much of anything. gravel vacuuming and water changes, coupled with no overfeeding is the besst way to handle this. then there's the prodigious breeding of these pests ... two snails today usually = 2000 snails next month. no snails for me.
They clean up all manner of waste and excess food, and eat algae in large quantities. They can additionally be a great indicator of excess feeding because they breed to the level of available food, and will give you a population explosion anytime you feed excessively or maintian a tank poorly. When my Snail Population explodes I know something is amiss and I need to change my habits.
If you have a planted tank, they are great for keeping leaves algae free and consuming dead plant matter that you can't or didn't remove.
I also find them to be very interesting to watch in a tank. their antics can be pretty comical at times.
dave
If you have a planted tank, they are great for keeping leaves algae free and consuming dead plant matter that you can't or didn't remove.
I also find them to be very interesting to watch in a tank. their antics can be pretty comical at times.
dave
It really depends on the kind of snail, I think. I think most snails are algae eaters, so they help out in keeping the tank clean in that respect. Some even eat the decaying leaves on live plants, too. But apart from their ability to do a little bit of janitorial work, they're just fun to watch. I just got some to help keep the algae in my tanks under control, and I find myself watching the snails more than the fish, now!
Some snails can make nuisances of themselves if they're not in the right environment, though. Where some snails only eat dead plant matter, for example, others prefer fresh greens, and so may make pests of themselves in a planted tank.
In short, the role a snail plays in a fishtank varies-- it just depends on the kind of snail, and the kind of tank they're going to be living in.
Some snails can make nuisances of themselves if they're not in the right environment, though. Where some snails only eat dead plant matter, for example, others prefer fresh greens, and so may make pests of themselves in a planted tank.
In short, the role a snail plays in a fishtank varies-- it just depends on the kind of snail, and the kind of tank they're going to be living in.
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Well that depends on the type of snail you're talking about... brigs and cana's are awesome to watch and are quite funny critters to have in a tank. The generic name for them is apple snail, but be careful because one or the other loves to eat live plants. I have an apple snail (not sure whether he's a brig or cana) in my 75G and he is the most entertaining thing in the entire tank. I'd definitely recommend a snail of this sort because they don't breed like crazy such as the hitchhiker snails do.
Well, I have live plants in my tank. So maybe something that will not eat my green plants, but maybe get rid of the dead stuff would be nice. Also something that wont mulitply too much lol. Any suggestions?
I agree with most of the above postings in regards to snails. I like my snail--supposedly a mystery snail. He does alot of good work in the tank as long as I use my common sense--lots of info on the net. Mine will, but rarely, nibble on the anacharis (usually the dead parts) if he's swabbed clean the algae and I forget to give him an algae tab (talk about fascinating to watch!) Using your noggin, a snail or snails can be excellent members of the community tank. (re singles--I read somewhere that a female can carry fertile eggs for a long time, then wham! snail city. Been lucky here so far lol). :thm:
BTY, "slow as a snail" is not quite right--mine's name is Turbo, as he can be on one end of the tank at one moment, and then all the way across and up the wall a minute later!!! :laugh:
BTY, "slow as a snail" is not quite right--mine's name is Turbo, as he can be on one end of the tank at one moment, and then all the way across and up the wall a minute later!!! :laugh:
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Go for Brigs. They're the ones that eat decaying plant matter, as opposed to live plants. Birth control is relatively easy, and they get to be about the size of a ping pong ball. Before you head to the pet store, though, do a little research and familiarize yourself with the ways to identify Brigs from other snails. Most pet stores are indiscriminate in labelling their snails, and will lump all sorts of different gastropods together in a single tank marked "Mystery Snails".
An excellent site to start with is http://www.applesnail.net. The proper scientific name for the species I'm talking about is Pomacea bridgesi.
(By the by, I just checked applesnail.net, and it appears to be down at the moment.
Bookmark it anyway, though, and come back to it later.)
An excellent site to start with is http://www.applesnail.net. The proper scientific name for the species I'm talking about is Pomacea bridgesi.
(By the by, I just checked applesnail.net, and it appears to be down at the moment.
Bookmark it anyway, though, and come back to it later.)
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Thanks for the link, mandimoron. I was just coming on to ask where to find good info on snails.
I have a large one we named Gary (after Spongebob's snail). I agree Rosita; they aren't slow! I love the name Turbo.
I have a large one we named Gary (after Spongebob's snail). I agree Rosita; they aren't slow! I love the name Turbo.