One FAT Betta! Eating pond snails??

[PJGirl112]

Well, I am in process of stocking my big tank and picked up a male betta a few weeks ago. In the conditioning phase I added about 1/2 dozen 1/4 cm pond snails in with the plants to get things going...and have added about another dozen since to help with cleaning up.

The betta has put on weight...I see him squabbling with the cory's for their Omega One shrimp pellets and sinking wafers so I assumed that he was eating his far share of those, but last night I noticed that there is not ONE snail in the tank that I could see--even moved some plants around looking for them specifically.

Since nothing else in the tank (swordtails/cories) are known to eat snails...is it possible that my $4 investment has turned into a blessing in disguise (was contemplating buying some fish just to eat some snails!)??? Has anyone had a betta that eats snails and is it safe for them to do so??? I am assuming that since he is very active and is very well-fed looking that he is OK???

 

[daveedka]

I have heard from many that beattas are good snail removers. I have not verified this myself, but it seems to be the general consensus.
Dave

 

[Emg]

Lol....well, you would have to watch out for constipation. If you notice he's having a hard time swimming around or spending most of his time on the bottom...he needs to fast....In fact, I think I would give him a good fast for a couple of days now after THAT feast. Float him in a cup in the tank while you're feeding the others. Shouldn't be too hard to cup him, the little pig is probably waiting right there at the surface everytime you come by with the chow...lol... :joke:

 

[PJGirl112]

Lol....well, you would have to watch out for constipation. If you notice he's having a hard time swimming around or spending most of his time on the bottom...he needs to fast....In fact, I think I would give him a good fast for a couple of days now after THAT feast. Float him in a cup in the tank while you're feeding the others. Shouldn't be too hard to cup him, the little pig is probably waiting right there at the surface everytime you come by with the chow...lol... :joke:

I hear that! He is a big pig and makes no bones about watching for those pellets! At first I was just grateful that he was eating something as he has ignored the betta pellets (I tried 3 different types of speciality betta food).

I do see him go to the "bathroom" so hopefully I didn't throw him too much escargot not thinking that he would eat them! I will hold off on adding new snails for awhile (I have a little tank just full of pond snails as they really seem to multiply if left on their own). Like I said, he could be a super blessing in disguise if he is the snail-eater! :clap: