mbuna and snails

[indiginess]

anybody have specific experience with pond snails in a mbuna tank? any reason to avoid it? my concern is whether or not the shells will cause gastrointestinal problems. snails are a constituent of aufwuch, but i'm wondering if i'm setting myself up for problems.

i've heard some people say they feed small snails to their mbuna, but i'm looking for a broad spectrum of opinions and/or experience.

thanks.

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I would not make thier diet out of it, they are too rich in protien to feed to mbuna. They would likely cause bloat. A once-in-a-while snack is fine though.


-Diana

 

[indiginess]

nah, it would just be a snack.... flake spirulina and quality tropical staple flake is their daily.

got a funny story. i added one larger (3/4") pond snail to see how they would react. i did it during a feeding so they didn't notice the addition right away. well, once the frenzy at the top passed, they resumed their usual scrounge around the tank, searching the substrate for any missed food.

finally, one of the adult male Saulosi found the snail. i placed the snail right in front so i could watch. the fish grabbed the snail and ran with it for a few inches....

it looked like it had a fatty jutting from its lip, like Mbuna Marley or somethin... ABSOLUTELY FREAKIN' HILARIOUS.

it eventually dropped it, and although one of them occationally picks at the snail when they catch it moving, i don't think they will be able to get at it through the shell. the snail just retreats until the coast is clear.

i think i'm going to leave the single snail in there for a few more days, see if i get a population.... never know if it was carrying fertilized eggs or sperm or whatever. i think the smaller snails (if any surface) would be a nice snack for sure.

thanks for the input, luvMyKribs... anyone else with experience?

 

[kayla]

My boyfriends tank had some snails so we took one of my yellow labs and put it in his tank. Not even after a minute the lab was carrying around snails in his mouth. He didn't actually eat the snail shell but the snail inside was gone. He pretty much took care of the snail population.... :clap: