Snail Control

[JennClair]

Hey!!
 
New to this site and was just looking for advice on snail control, if anyone could help would be greatly appreciated!!
 
Thanks, Jenn

 

[coolie]

You could get some fish that eat snails like Rosy Barbs or Clown Loaches. I'm trying to breed snails for them in a separate tank and my tank grows too much algae without snails.

 

[Nordk]

If you put some vegetable matter (such as a cucumber slice) on the bottom of the tank (you may need to weight it) overnight, it will be covered in snails, remove it before turning any lights on.

 

[wrightt3]

If you put some vegetable matter (such as a cucumber slice) on the bottom of the tank (you may need to weight it) overnight, it will be covered in snails, remove it before turning any lights on.

 
Ha, sounds so simple! why have I never tried that

 
Assassin snails do a good job at removing pest snails too. I find bleach works quite well too

 

[JennClair]

Brilliant, thank you both!! Yeah they sure do clean the algae, I've got live plants so worrried they might munch on those?

 

[Nordk]

Brilliant, thank you both!! Yeah they sure do clean the algae, I've got live plants so worrried they might munch on those?

 
Depends on what kind of snails they are, this thread can tell you if they'll snack on your plants. 

 

[NeonNeptune]

Those snails will make a great treats too for any fish if you crack its shell.

 

[the_lock_man]

You could get some fish that eat snails like Rosy Barbs or Clown Loaches.

 
The issue there is that you may not have room for those species in your tank. Jenn, if you are considering that approach, please research the fish first.
 
My personal recommendation is (A) cut down on feeding, as the snails eat left-over fish food and (B) an assassin snail or two.

 

[JennClair]

 

You could get some fish that eat snails like Rosy Barbs or Clown Loaches.

 
The issue there is that you may not have room for those species in your tank. Jenn, if you are considering that approach, please research the fish first.
 
My personal recommendation is (A) cut down on feeding, as the snails eat left-over fish food and (B) an assassin snail or two.
 

 
Thank you! no I don't think my tank would be big enough for a clown loach (58 litre) I think the snails came on a plant that I bought a couple of days ago as up until then I didn't have any. Thanks for the advice I will look into assassin snails

Those snails will make a great treats too for any fish if you crack its shell.

That's if I can catch them first haha!

 

[ShinySideUp]

I originally bought clown loaches as a cure for a snail problem, I was new to the hobby and a little naive and it was only as they grew bigger that I knew I had a bit of a problem.
 
That was many years ago and although I don't have those loaches or that setup anymore I found the allure of Clown Loaches too much to ignore and bought them again with a new setup which was a 120 litre tank and six Clowns. As they grew I replaced the 120 litre with a 240 litre, four foot tank which lasted about two years before I had to upgrade once more -- just for the Clowns.
 
I am now the proud owner of a 6 x 2 x 2 foot tank containing 640 litres of water and I have five Clown Loaches to which I will be adding two more.
 
This six foot tank is all there is going to be so if they get too big for this one then they will become lunch.
 
My point here is:
 
Never buy Clown Loaches as a cure for a snail problem unless you have a huge fish tank, please, never do this. You will either be a cruel fish owner or a poor one -- I am the latter (six foot tanks are not cheap).

 

[coolie]

I wouldn't dream of over-stocking a tank to cure a snail problem. Doesn't that kinda go without saying? I think any advice on here should be seen in the context of your own setup which others may not be aware of.

 

[mtbdean]

Assasin Snails are brilliant, but i'm now overrun with them!

 

[coolie]

I'm actually trying to get snails back in my tank as they were excellent cleaners of algae on the back wall, but I know they are not popular to all.