Snail question

[black_sun]

Alright, so it was recommended that I get a snail (I think "ramshorn" it was called... I should just check that post again, but I'm lazy right now) to help control some excess plant growth I'm having in my tanks. What do I need to know about taking care of a snail or multiple snails? I only keep crayfish, shrimp, feeders and one really big oscar... so snails are a loss on me.

 

[msjinkzd]

most snails will not eat healthy plants. Was that about your hornwort post? Unless you get a plant eating species of snail (columbian ramshorn, cana) it won't really help, and if you decide to do that, they will decimate your plants.

 

[black_sun]

most snails will not eat healthy plants. Was that about your hornwort post? Unless you get a plant eating species of snail (columbian ramshorn, cana) it won't really help, and if you decide to do that, they will decimate your plants.

Yea, that was about my hornwort post. Meh, maybe I don't want a snail then... I don't want my plants completely decimated, just to stop spreading so quickly and attaching to my walls (it clouds them up so badly, ugh). I guess I'm stuck scrubbing the walls then, oh well. :\

 

[msjinkzd]

how do you have the hornwort anchored? You could try putting it in bunches with plant weights to try and control where it spreads. I ended up getting rid of hornwort because although its an excellent nitrate sponge, its a really messy plant.

 

[catnipgal]

I have a pleco catfish that is doing a number on my live plants!!

 

[BoredAgain]

I don't know what you mean by the hornwort attaching to your walls and clouding them up. I've had no issues with hornwort and I think it is a great plant to have, especially for shrimp. I've had no issues with the plant being messy, especially if left floating. It really isn't that hard to just cut away what you don't want and toss it. If you don't want your arms in a tank then maybe plants just aren't for you. Remember, fish/snails/shrimp aren't the gardeners, you are.

 

[thebullit]

i agree with all.

 

[black_sun]

I don't know what you mean by the hornwort attaching to your walls and clouding them up. I've had no issues with hornwort and I think it is a great plant to have, especially for shrimp. I've had no issues with the plant being messy, especially if left floating. It really isn't that hard to just cut away what you don't want and toss it. If you don't want your arms in a tank then maybe plants just aren't for you. Remember, fish/snails/shrimp aren't the gardeners, you are.

The plant is reproducing and the new plants are "attaching to the walls" and "clouding them up" with the growth. In any event, just because you haven't had an issue with the plant doesn't mean anyone else hasn't either, so kindly refrain from the snark. I'd love to cut away the peices that are being an issue except they are too small to cut (unless I leave them alone, they seem to be growing quick enough), I have to scrub them off. Which is an issue, I shouldn't be doing complete water changes that often (and I have to in order to scrub down the walls) it doesn't do well for my crays and shrimp.

 

[black_sun]

how do you have the hornwort anchored? You could try putting it in bunches with plant weights to try and control where it spreads. I ended up getting rid of hornwort because although its an excellent nitrate sponge, its a really messy plant.

I had weights on it, but my crays snip them as they eat it. Lil' pests (they dig up my amazon swords, too... I have to re-plant those daily, heh)... I may just end up getting rid of the plant. It grows like a weed which is great for the shrimp and crays, but I can't have something that grows that quickly, that much, and ends up clouding the tank walls. Don't suppose you know any other good plants to use? ^_^

 

[msjinkzd]

you could try something like anacharis, its a water column feeder but doesn't have the "hairy fern" like stuff that hornwort does, it also grows SUPER fast, is very low light, and is an excellent nitrate sponge