Mystery Snail

[Dwu280]

Hey guys I have a 5 gallon tank, its about a year old and currently there is no fish it. I want to put a mystery snail in it, but I'm going away for 3 weeks in a couple days so I won't be able to turn on the light. I have a good amount of algae in it so ppl have told me the snail could live off that, but I'm wondering if it will be ok without someone turning on the light everyday.
The reason I don't want to buy the snail after I get back is because I will put fish in and I don't want to put too many things in my tank at once. Anyways can someone help me out? Thanks.
D. Wu

 

[cowboy507]

the snail will be fine with no lights. they are usually nocturnal. having the lights off for a while will also kill most the algae. (the snail should be fine)
just out of curiosity what has been in it for the past year? just the snail?

 

[OldMan47]

3 weeks is a long time Dwu. Your snail is going to get hungry in that time. You may get away with the algae feeding the snail for the first week or maybe two but not for all three. You are likely to come home to a very hungry snail that has had enough food only to survive.

 

[Gizmo24]

Could u not put the lights on a timer, so they come on a little bit, and then the snail will b fine with what algae that grows?

 

[Dwu280]

that is a good idea, i probably will get a timer
so with the light on for some time, the algae will grow and will it be enough for the snail to survive?

i have got this tank in march 2008, and since i have had a betta in it (in a separate tank now), african dwarf frogs, and guppies at another point (gave them away to a friend)

i also had a ghost shrimp but it died within the first day

 

[helterskelter]

set it to 12 hours light and their should be enough for snails