Snail Questions

[gilaesther]

1. I want to get a few MTS for my tank, are all conical shaped snails MTS? My LFS says that their pest snails are MTS, but I've seen them on the glass during the day, with the tank lights on - they are conical. If they truly are MTS, they are willing to give me some for free if there are any out when I go in. Or would I be better off buying on eBay?

2. Do snails (both MTS and/or apple) affect the bio load?

3. Can I have an apple snail in the tank with the MTS?

4. Are apple snails too big for a 10 gal tank that has fish in it as well?

Thank you!

 

[Baccus]

MTS are conical but there are litterally hundreds of aquatic snails that can also have conical shells, although MTS are by far the most common.

Initially a couple of MTS would not infringe on your bioload, but after the beggers have bred to plague proportions I would be surprised if they wheren't having an affect. Apple snails the great poo machines would affect bioload if you had numbers in an already fish stocked tank (or a small tank).

It really depends on what you want the snail for, just because you like them? clean up/ eat algea? or as subtrate shifter. Personally I would aim for a snail that will not readily breed sucessfully in fresh water such as nerites, they are great agea eaters and you wont curse the day they where added to your tank.

 

[alistairw]

I would add a couple of nerites too. As mentioned by Baccus, they won't reproduce as the young need brackish water, so you won't be over run with them. MTS could cause you a plague!! I have a small problem with them at the moment as some came in on some plants I bought (which I didn't wash) and I keep finding them along with Rams horn snails.

The golden apples can grow quite large.

 

[gilaesther]

The MTS were meant for substrate and algae cleaner, mostly (and I promised my kids some type of snail). I understand that if you don't overfeed, the snails don't reproduce as much. Am I wrong?

As for the apple snails... they're so pretty But if I can't have one in my current setup, I'll just have to wait until we live in a place where I can get a bigger tank...

Do nerites do what the MTS does?

 

[Essjay]

MTS live mainly in the substrate, though they do come out in the dark. You won't see them most of the time. If you do see them on the glass during daylight, check you water stats. They are a good early warning system if things go wrong.
Nerite snails crawl over everything, they don't hide in the substrate. They are very good algae eaters, but that means they do create a fair bit of poo like most algae eaters. They are also good at escaping, so if you get them make sure they can't get out. After finding mine on the kitchen foor a couple of times, I now have filter wool stuffed in the hole the wires go through and a sponge selotaped over the unused hole on the other side of the lid.