When to add snails?

mighty mouse

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May 28, 2009
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Bozeman, Montana
I'd like to add one or two snails to my 10 gallon. It currently has a betta and two white clouds in it. It's been up and running for a couple of weeks now, and the levels all check out fine.

When can I add snails?
Should I wait until I actually find algae?
Will they destroy my live plants?
And lastly, should I do just one, or more than one in a 10 gallon?

Thanks. :)
 
Well, the only LFS we have in town is PetSmart, and all they have are mystery snails... I think WalMart might have apple snails, but they get too large for me, lol. I know mystery snails don't do as well on the algae, but I think they'd still keep the tank clean when algae grows...
 
a "mystery" snail is a Bridgesii Snail and you are right they are not proficient algae eaters. They do eat some though. They also need to be fed daily. In our invert section is a sticky of foods for snails. I would only do one. Bridgesii are sex specific and if you only get one, you will not have to worry about babies.
 
Thanks! It would be safe to add him now then, since I'd be doing supplemental feedings?
 
I think apple snails is also another name for mystery snails :)

You can keep your snails right now if you'd like; apart from algae, they also scavenge around for food, and they will eat plants in your aquarium if they're not well-fed, so make sure there's always some share for them. Sinking pellets will work great if you don't have any algae left.

I'd jut get one of them because even if they're not asexsual, if you have a pair you can get overloaded with them pretty fast. Also, keep in mind that they produce a lot of waste!
 
More or less waste than something like an otto? I like ottos, but I'd rather have other types of fish in my tank than them... I guess anything that eats algae and such will produce a large amount of waste...
 
Are shrimp pellets good? I also looked at the sticky in the invert forum...
 
apple snails, aka mystery snails, are poop machines if fed properly. ample filtration on a tank with apple snails is a must, as is regular gravel vacs and water changes. a ten gallon would be able to house two snails with your current fish, IMO. and if you do end up getting egg clutches, just freeze them in a ziploc and toss them in the garbage. call it brigg birth control, lol.

i keep and breed briggs (Bridgesi), and they are messy when cared for properly. they need to be fed at least every second day, and will scavenge the substrate, decor, plants, etc for leftovers in between feedings. they do not eat plants but may cause damage to the more fragile plants in their travels about the aquarium. a higher ph is necessary to keep shells in good condition (mine is 7.8). yes, they need both genders to propregate. they will float about in the tank for a day or two sometimes, just to worry their human needlessly, lol.

as for feeding, all fish foods are good for them, but snail jello is the best, as the extra calcium is necessary for shell quality. there is a sticky in the invert section here on AC that has recipes. various veggies are good too, zucchini, french cut green beans, cucumber, lettuce (but not iceberg lettuce for some reason), are excellent. my snails go nuts for bloodworms, and i believe the bloodworms are what changed the pigmentation of my ivory's shell to magenta.
 
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