1 Small Snail

[evilchild]

i did a part water change last night a found one small snail, i did try to get it out but i dropped into the tank again. as i distrubed my fish enough i thought i would leave it for the moment and ask you guys on what i should do. i did look around the rest of the tank and couldn't see any more, so should i be worried about it? i have ne real plants in this tank so it can't eat the plastic one's. i hope.

 

[roseK]

snails dont really eat plants. but you should be worried about it laying eggs everywhere and taking over unless u have fish that eat snails

 

[evilchild]

snails dont really eat plants. but you should be worried about it laying eggs everywhere and taking over unless u have fish that eat snails

yeah that what i thought about it taking over, what fish do eat them? i know puffer's eat them but there not a fish that you can mix. am i right in thinking some loaches eat them?

 

[roseK]

yes loaches do. im not an expert on them, but it also depends on ur tank size, since loaches can grow fairly big

 

[kat11180]

since its more than likely already laid its eggs id leave it as theres no point getting rid of one as by next week theres going to be alot more. but i have actually added snails to my tanks a few times in the past as they feed on the green alge and also on uneaten food from the fish but they DO become a huge problem if not kept under control but after all they are most catfishs/loaches natual food and whats better than that? i found clown loaches love them and most bottom feeders will give them a go. good luck at keeping them under control

 

[Matty P]

If your tank is more than 75 gallons then a clown loach would be a good addition to your tank. The snails are harmless and they do eat some algaes. You just need to keep them under control. I'm confused how you got a snail into your tank if you don't have any real plants...

 

[kat11180]

If your tank is more than 75 gallons then a clown loach would be a good addition to your tank. The snails are harmless and they do eat some algaes. You just need to keep them under control. I'm confused how you got a snail into your tank if you don't have any real plants...

the eggs can sometimes be in the gravel/sand when you get it

 

[Matty P]

Thanks, didn't know that!

 

[stang1]

The only bottom dwellers that I know to eat snails are Loaches. As Matty mentioned, if you have a big enough tank then go for the Clown Loaches. If not, then go for one of the Botia species, they don't get very big and should solve your snail problem. Buy at least 3 as they prefer to be in groups.

 

[evilchild]

i'm not sure how it got in there either. my tank been running for about three months and had no sign of any snails? but i found it once again and it has gone. just have to wait and see what happens now. thanks for all your advice.

 

[Benihana]

We, sadly, seem to be suffering from a snail invasion as well. We are coming to the end, hopefully, of our fishless cycle and are looking at Kuhli Loaches. These haven't been mentioned in this thread as of yet but will they have a go at taking on the snails as well? Thanks

 

[Colonel Mustard]

If you want to get rid of snails big time you can set a trap. there are two ways of doing it.

The first is to simply put a saucer on the substrate with a lump of cucumber on it (best if its a wedge not a slice) then leave it the over night by the morning you should have loads of snails there just muching away; then you can carefully remove the plate and the snails. don't do it daily but every second or third day, if you have no big problem weekly should be fine.

Another way which is very similar but better if you have bottom dwelers is to put the saucer upsidedown proped up on the gravel (if you can't prop it up then just scoop some of the substrate away from one side so that the snails can get in ) with the cucumber underneath it . this is not as easy as it can be difficult to pick the snails off the substrate.


hope this helps people