Feeding Nerite snails?

[FishHobby99]

Finally got around to reading the detailed instructions provided by the eBay seller that I initially didn’t notice. Despite my failure to acclimate them, all are doing fine. He says to feed them algae wafers. I purchased 2 sacks & all the fish ignore them, including the goldies. I have concerns wafers will muck up the water. Do you guys feed ones in fish tanks? Thanks.

 

[AquaBarb]

Ive got Nerite snails and never target feed them really. If your tank is established they will just munch on algae of glass/wood etc.

 

[Essjay]

I've never fed mine either, and although I've had nerites which lived only a few months I've had others which have lived for years.

 

[Rocky998]

Will they eat fish poop too?

I dont think so, but im not 100% sure

 

[Essjay]

I've never seen mine eat fish poop, but they do make a lot of poop of their own. I have wood in my tank and they spend a lot of their time on it rasping at the surface - and a pile of snail poop under the wood.

 

[Beastije]

Neritina is solely an algae eater, no food leftovers, no plant matter. They also prefer only some type of algae, never the wafers.
That is the reason why they sometimes die in the tanks, nothing they like to eat. They are a bit fussy. Had mine for four years but I take care to not wash at least one fishtank glass so they have stuff to eat for sure.
In established tank they should be ok as others said.

 

[Essjay]

The only tank wall I clean is the front one so that I can see in properly

 

[Beastije]

Also keep a tight lid, no idea why but they love to leave the tank ( few of mine did anyway)

 

[Beastije]

Wow, twenty, that is a lot, though I don't know your tank dimensions. Anyway, those who won't find enough food will die of hunger, so I wouldn't worry about poop messing the tank, but the dead snails will.

Will be hard to recognize dead ones, they can spend time not moving at the same place for days.
Sniff test is valid only after like 3 days as well. Though some fish might eat your dead snail, depends on what you have. I guess you will see.

For my tylomelania i started to attempt to grow algae on stones on my windowsill, maybe that could be your approach too.

 

[Rocky998]

Had to google that one. Pretty things. I am frugal & often buy in bulk. Probably not the best approach here.

i would love to toss some in my big cichlid tank, but have heard they’ll eat the snails. idk

Well, if 20 is too much... say a prayer and throw em in

 

[Rocky998]

I like how you think!

Thanks! lol

 

[Beastije]

I would put all in the originally picked tank, see how they do. Some won't survive the transport anyway, rest will see what's there to eat and then you can re-home them if needed. Though they do have tough shell and no foot that sticks out, not sure how the cichlids would handle that, might choke on it )

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

I'm thinking that some cichlids would delight in nipping off the eye stalks.

 

[Beastije]

I'm thinking that some cichlids would delight in nipping off the eye stalks.

That for sure, but the eye stalk is hair thin and few mm long. Not even my betta nipped it off. Depends on the fish i guess?

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

I never noticed eyestalks! My first nerite pair came with a betta. Hope they weren’t eaten! Appear ok to me.

They have really long and fine sensory antennae and usually wave these about. These can grow back.
Nerites also have eyes on smaller stalks and if they lose these, they're gone for good, I believe