Snails for a 40 gallon & Plant Questions

[zmazza]

I had a few questions about adding snails to my 40 gallon... I want to add plants and I'd like to have a non plant-eating species to control algae.

I currently have a 2" senegal bichir in the tank, and will soon be adding 3-4 three-spot gouramis. I'm not sure if this is a species that will completely eradicate any snail populations that I might have, and thats what I am hoping you will be able to answer for me.

My questions:

1. What snails would be beneficial to add that would reproduce but NOT eat my plants?
2. If the snail's shells start showing white streaks, what can I do?
3. What is the most beneficial snail to add to my tank?
4. Will the three-spot gourami eat snails?
5. Will the bichir eat snails?

I hope I haven't asked TOO many questions. I hear that snails are extremely beneficial to a tank, and I want my tank to be as healthy as possible, hence the abundance of anachris, amazon swords, java moss and anubias.

I currently have a 25 watt 36" strip light on my tank, and what it doesn't have in wattage per gallon I believe it makes up for in lumens. I have a 29 gallon with the lighting that comes in the package and I'm growing anachris and amazon swords. I know it probably isn't even a watt per gallon.

What do you guys think? Do you know of any other low light plants that I could use?

- Zac

 

[Lobo.]

the snails only take over a tank if you overfeed... but since you are not worried about that... id add pond snails and MTS, id add both because having more than one type of species means competition, also, while the mts stay in the gravel alot, the pond snails go all over the glass and such. both of these will only eat plants if they are dying or decaying, jus remember that any algie that gets eaten will turn to snail poop, which is less toxic and eaiser to clean than decaying food, but it still means you have to vacuum it up. and if your fish eat them, then great, just set up a bowl to breed the snails in to replenish the tank if it suddenly is void of snails, also the white streaks arn't a problem, compare it to melonan in the skin (sp?) its just a dif pattern...

 

[zmazza]

Hmm... Sounds good. I'll have to buy or find a fish bowl and get to work. What should you feed the snails if you put them in the fish bowl? How do I find pond snails and MTS snails? Can you buy them from stores?

 

[Lobo.]

since these snails are seen as pests by many stores, you can just collect them from the tanks (with permission) for free, although some stores my charges something i guess... also, if you keep a separate snail tank, just add some cheep low-light plant, and change the water every week (or other, but the better the water, the less snails will die) and drop an algie pellet in once or twice a week, if the algie remains get gross, take out what the snails didnt eat... snails are eaiser than fish because they reproduce, you dont have to worry as much about them dieing, so long as the line continues

 

[zmazza]

Hmm thats a great idea! Thanks a bunch for the recommendation. I'll see if I can't find a fish bowl or a cheap 2.5 gallon hex with light and undergravel filter. Do you think that would work if I put something like anachris or some java moss in there?

How do I know if I am getting a pond snail or an MTS snail? I've had one before, but didn't know which type.