Snails....
- Thread starter Rheanun
- Start date
probably, as long as it's big enough that the betta can't get it in his mouth. some bettas will eat snails, but many also ignore them (as they are insectivores). i'd say to be safe, go with a good sized mystery snail (1 inch).
also, make sure you're not getting a giant apple snail! they will outgrow your tank really fast, and grow to the size of your fist!
Smaller snails like ramshorn, maylasian trumpet, and pond snails, yes. Larger snails like apple and mystery are a no-no in my opinion in anything less than 10g. You could keep a few gohst shrimp or other small shrimp species in the tank as well.Rheanun said:
However, this is asuming your bettas won't eat or kill the snails and shrimp, wich can only be found out via trial and error, as bettas have variable temperments.
If you have plants avoid applesnails and columbian ramshorn. They are very good at eating plants. Plus they would require a larger tank. The other snail varieties will probably breed fast than a betta could ever eat them, assuming it would even try. Ghost shrimp could be a fun experimnt as well. I successfully kept amano shrimp for a year with my betta (then they died off). They are fun to watch as well and don't add much to a tanks bioload.
Although this is true, unless the tank is being overfed, the snails will not grow to huge poulations wich is normally thought they do. You will have a good sized population of them, but not enough to be unsightly or anoying.TKOS said:
many snails are hermaphrodites, like ramshorns and ponds, meaning that they contain both sex organs. they can mate with ANY other snail (of the same species, of course). when you buy them, there is a good chance that they may already be "pregnant" and may lay eggs in your betta tank, even though it's the only snail you bought.
mysteries and apples have separate genders, i believe. and dorkfish is right, those two will outgrow a betta tank.
mysteries and apples have separate genders, i believe. and dorkfish is right, those two will outgrow a betta tank.
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I would say try it and see what happens. Some bettas will go after the "antennae" on the snails, others wont. Currently I have 2 bettas that dont bother snails, but I have had a betta that would attack them onsite.
once when i had a small snail (that i didnt buy) in my tank and i didnt want it anymore , my sister put it in her betta tank and here betta like attacked but didnt eat it and when it fell to the bottom of the tank it was only seen once after that....
salty0pepper said:
Just another example of how bettas have variable temperments. I peresonally have never seen any of my bettas (have/have had 8 of them over the years) bug snails, but I've only kept snails that they will actualy see on two occasions and with three diferent bettas (maylasian trumpet snails only come out after dark).