How do snails rate?

[modernhamlet]

I recently discovered that my betta, Horatio, is a stone-cold snail-killing machine. He got his first taste after attacking and maiming a nice, large ramshorn I put in to keep him company. Luckily, I saved the ramshorn and he still lives and breeds in my main tank, though he as much drags his shell along on his journeys. Tough little guy. Anyway...

I've thrown a couple of smaller pond snails in there on a couple of occasions recently and Horatio has quickly and viciously removed them from their shells and scarfed them down. Apparently he's a big fan of escargo...

So my questions:

1. How nutritious are snails as a fish food source?
2. How many/often should I give him these live "treats"?

 

[tstenback]

I dont know about a betta but i had a psycho angel would eat 2-3 common snails a day and ate very little else and lived for over 9 years so i would say they have some nutritional value but what i cant quantify for you.

 

[heresmike]

I would agree that live aquatic beings are good nutritional value for fish, as it's their natural food! But as tstenbak has said, can't quantify.

This has been a reply by "heresmike"

 

[modernhamlet]

Well he's been in bubblenest mode since I gave him the snails, so I guess he approves.

He's still getting the betta bites most of the time though, no matter how much he begs!

Thanks guys.