Snails and ottos... and other things

mel_20_20

mel_20_20

AC Members
Sep 1, 2008
3,300
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Deep in the heart of texas
I'm struggling along as a newbie, but have gotten lots of help from you guys on this forum. You've helped me through some trials and tragedies.

Yesterday, instead of Petco or Petsmart, I went to a lfs: a small family owned store that's been around forever, and the lady, (picture female version of "Slingblade", lol, voice and appearance, but with more hair) and I got 1 mystery snail, and 2 tiny ottos, and a real plant.

I have been having mini cycle issues, and from you guys and the lady at the lfs, I realize I have been overfeeding. She suggested every other day for at least a while til the tank is fully cycled again.

I said "..but they always look hungry...",

she said (in that voice and with a straight face) "What else are they gonna do?

I mean that lady is a hoot, and she doesn't know it.... anyway, sorry, I'm a talker.

Slingblade recommended also 1 or 2 ottos, a snail and a live plant to help with the nitrates and algae issues.

She asked, "On your snail...do you want a brown or gold?"

I said "Gold, what kind are they?"

She said, (with no crack of a smile, and just as dead pan as you could get), "Brown or gold."

I said..."no... I mean what KIND are they?"

She said.."Mystery".

Does that mean it is a mystery to her or is that their real name?

My question, (and I do have one and I'm finally getting around to it), is:

What temperature is best for my tank with the occupants I have?

I have 3 neons, 2 ADFs, 3 ghost shrimp, 1 Emerald cory, 2 tiny ottos, 1 small guppy, and a mystery snail.

Oh, another question:
Also, how much should I feed? I have Wardley shrimp pellets, those wafers for bottom feeders, some TetraFin flakes, freeze dried blood worms for the frogs, and some brine shrimp (dried).

I have been putting in about 2 shrimp pellets 2 wafers and a pinch of flakes every day. Fed the frogs the worms about ever 3 days. About every other day I put 1 or 2 english peas that I've nuked and peeled. They eat on the peas and then I fish out the remnant after a day.

I did 2 50% water changes yesterday and things look better. The temp is 78.2, ph 7.2, KH between 40 and 80, GH 150, nitrite appx .125, nitrate around 15.

I had so much algae in the biofilter, and all over, I did a good cleaning. Got rid of some of the plastic plants.
Afterwards, last nite the frogs were flying around in there, more activity from the cory than I'd ever seen, the new ottos were zooming around. Snail, too, for a snail. I was worried, but everything looks good this morning and those are the readings from about 20 minutes ago.

I'm sorry I've written a novel here. But, I could use any suggestions you guys could make. And, Thanks so much. This is a great website, and great group of people.

I love fish!!!
 
I have been having mini cycle issues, and from you guys and the lady at the lfs, I realize I have been overfeeding. She suggested every other day for at least a while til the tank is fully cycled again.

I said "..but they always look hungry...",

she said (in that voice and with a straight face) "What else are they gonna do? :rofl:

I mean that lady is a hoot, and she doesn't know it.... anyway, sorry, I'm a talker.

Slingblade recommended also 1 or 2 ottos, a snail and a live plant to help with the nitrates and algae issues.

She asked, "On your snail...do you want a brown or gold?"

I said "Gold, what kind are they?"

She said, (with no crack of a smile, and just as dead pan as you could get), "Brown or gold." :rofl:

I said..."no... I mean what KIND are they?"

She said.."Mystery".

Does that mean it is a mystery to her or is that their real name?
Pomacea bridgesii are often sold under the common name "mystery" snail.
My question, (and I do have one and I'm finally getting around to it), is:

What temperature is best for my tank with the occupants I have?
Probably around 78.
I have 3 neons, 2 ADFs, 3 ghost shrimp, 1 Emerald cory, 2 tiny ottos, 1 small guppy, and a mystery snail.

Oh, another question:
Also, how much should I feed? I have Wardley shrimp pellets, those wafers for bottom feeders, some TetraFin flakes, freeze dried blood worms for the frogs, and some brine shrimp (dried).

I have been putting in about 2 shrimp pellets 2 wafers and a pinch of flakes every day. Fed the frogs the worms about ever 3 days. About every other day I put 1 or 2 english peas that I've nuked and peeled. They eat on the peas and then I fish out the remnant after a day.I would recommend fasting one day a week as well. I would feed either the pellets or teh wafers, not both. If you notice they are gone super fast, then increase. Less is better for your water quality, but you don't want "starving" fish either.

I did 2 50% water changes yesterday and things look better. The temp is 78.2, ph 7.2, KH between 40 and 80, GH 150, nitrite appx .125, nitrate around 15.Do you have a liquid test kit? What is your ammonia reading? HOw long have you had this tank running now? I would do as many water changes as necessary to keep the ammonia and nitrite as close to 0 as possible. I also would not add anything else as this just adds more waste and more fluctuatoins in your parameters. What size is this tank?

I had so much algae in the biofilter, and all over, I did a good cleaning. Got rid of some of the plastic plants.
Afterwards, last nite the frogs were flying around in there, more activity from the cory than I'd ever seen, the new ottos were zooming around. Snail, too, for a snail. I was worried, but everything looks good this morning and those are the readings from about 20 minutes ago.
Click to expand...
If you are having nitrite, I would really advise checkign your water parameters at least daily and plan on doing at least daily water changes. Are you doing gravel vacs when you are doign your maintenance? Also, the snail will appreciate a calcium rich diet, the peas are good and they will enjoy them. They also like green beans and will eat the wafers as well.
 
10 gallon I started June 10th. Was fully cycled by 1st week of August. Nitrites and ammonia stayed at 0 and the nitrates at 20 for the longest.

Then, I had lost 2 guppies of the original 3, so about 3 weeks ago I added 2 new guppies, the 3 shrimp, and the cory.

Then 1 of the new guppies died after a week, and then the guppy that was remaining of the original 3 died about a week after that. I've been fighting to save the remaining guppy (the survivor of the 2 new ones added) and he's looking better, his tail fin was split all the way to it's base and dorsal was frayed. The tail is completely healed and the dorsal is looking healthier.

The tank went into a new cycling stage from the additions and overfeeding, lots of problems keeping the nitrite and ammonia down. I've been doing about 25 to 50% every other day, sometimes 2 days in a row, and vacuuming a little each time.

I wasn't doing the changes everyday for a while though. The tank was in my nephew's room and it was hard to get to it. I moved the tank to a better location day before yesterday. Also, the bucket and syphon vac system is killing me (bad back), so I'm going to get a python.

Just checked ammonia, looks like between .25 and .5
I haven't gotten the liquid test kit yet.

I saw, at Wal Mart, something called "C-100" ammonia neutralizer. Looks like little rocks in a perforated plastic bag, that you're supposed to drop down in the tank.

Would that help with the ammonia?

I'll go get the liquid test kit today.
Will the wafers do for all the occupants or just for the bottom feeders?
 
the wafers are just for the bottom feeders. I was just suggesting you feed one of the bottom feeders types at a time (either shirmp pellets OR wafers).
I prefer to just use water changes to control any spikes. I am not familiar with all the products out there that are supposed to help. Good luck and hopefully this resolves quickly for you!
 
I want to pronounce the scientific name of the snail correctly, could you please spell it phonetically for me?

Looks like it might be: pom uh SEE ah brih JESS ee aye... is that correct?
 
Thanks for your help. I've looked at your tanks and they're great.
 
I have one live plant that I bought yesterday. Lady didn't give me the name. I'm going to call her to ask. Looks kinda like baby spinach.

You sell plants, so could you please make some suggestions for plants for my 10 gal, that will be harder for a noob like me to kill, and that would be beneficial for my 10 gallon residents?
 
You should get 2 more green corys. They are much happier with buddies.
 
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