snails, etc.

[silveradam]

Hi all, first bunch of questions as a newbie:

I have a 10 gallon, 6 black skirt tetras, pH 7.6, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20, a bit on the hard side. Bought a live plant on the spur of the moment from a reputable pet store and am now invaded by pond snails. I've been using "Had-a-snail" and plucking out whatever I could see but the tank is still full of snails As a gift, my son bought a clown loach for my tank thinking it would help with my snail problem. I think his intentions were good but the loach is smaller than some of the snails I'm "fishing" out of the tank. Now I'm not sure I should keep using the chemical to deal with the snails - I understand loaches are sensitive to medications and chemicals.
As well, loaches should be in pairs, right? Should I consider another clown loach and do I have room for it? I do water changes every second week - food is flakes and the occassional treat of blood worms. Everyone in the tank seems happy - especially the snailsl
Suggestions?

 

[William]

There is a special way of catching large numbers of snails although there are many problems with it, basically the idea is having a bottle in there with a bit of cucumber in it, lift it out in the morning and it will be full of snails.

It is not quite as simple as that unfortunately, and it can also be dangerous, you say your fish are not that big so they may get trapped.

Just carry on with the crushing of any that you see, the only other tactic is to boil a bit of zuchinni/cucumber and weigh it down to the bottom of the tank. It is best to do this in the evening, turn the light off turn the light on in a couple of hours and their should be a lot in one place.

The snails are selfregulating, if there is a lot of food they will multiply fast, if there isn't then they won't. You can try cutting down on the amount of food you feed your fish as this should over time reduce the number of snails.

Apart from the unsightly aspect snails are actually good, preventing food being left to rot on the substrate (some argue that the snails even eat algae although if they do its not very much so don't get your hopes up )

Good luck!

 

[StiX]

Well first of all, a 10 gallon tank is too small by far for even 1 clown loach...never mind 2.

If u use a jar with a piece of lettuce/cucumber in, this will be safer for the fish, set it up just b4 lights out, and remover the jar (hopefully with snails!) in the morning just b4 the lights come back on.

Are u sure they are pond snails ? as they are coldwater and shouldnt be able to survive at tropical temps.

If they are pond snails they will be around 1cm long, but if they about 1/2 cm or less they could either be ramshorn snails, or the most common tiny snail (carnt remember the name) that commonly make their way into your tank via plants!

I wouldnt advise crushing them (at least not IN the tank) as they will then just rott away and can affect the water, especially in a smallish tank.

Good luck with your snail war!