Snails Or Shrimp?

[Jessman]

Hi, ive got a 100l tank with 17 platys and guppies and a couple of fry. Ive got a small algae problem, only affects the silk plants and the gravel. I can clean the algae off the silk plants but i cant clean it off the gravel as the gravel is fine, but not like sand.
Ive heard you can get cleaner shrimp or snails that will contribute to getting rid of the algae, but dont know which one to go for. I dont want them to eat any fry that may be lurking in the tank, and i dont want them to harm the fish in any way
So should i get snails or shrimp, and what kind?
Also how many?
And what do they eat and care etc.

Thanks for any help!

 

[snazy]

Both will work, but the platies will eat baby shrimp and may harrass the adults a bit, but won't be able to eat them. They'll make the shrimp hide though.
The other problem with getting shrimp is that although they do eat certain types of algae, they are scavengers, and in a platy tank there's no need for them because the platies are bigger scavengers.
Maybe get some nerite snails? They don't multiply and will eat several types of algae.
Ramshorns eat a big variety of algae and any other stuff been left around, but they'd multiply if you overfeed the tank.
Malaysian trumpet snails will also work, as they live in the substrate. They'd also multiply if you overfeed.
I have all these snails above and as long as your feeding and maintenance is normal and regular, then they are actually a very good addition to any tank and don't become a problem. They are more like an indicator when there's an overfeeding/lack of maintenance issue.

 

[mrhidley]

If you have a planted tank be careful, I have two snails, not sure what type they are. They're black, about two inches long and cone-shaped. They routinely eat through my plant stems, i think i have to replant something every day or two, although putting cucumber in the tank has helped this as it keeps them busy... I keep thinking about giving them away, but I'd miss their mannerisms. They have a tendency to fall into the substrate and get stuck upright, which is very funny. I guess what i'm saying is, snails are fun as long as you can avoid them eating everything!

 

[snazy]

Not all snails eat plants. Even shrimp would eat damaged/dying plants.
 
What you have is probably malaysian trumpet snains that live in the substrate(cone shaped). You can see their shells sticking out of the substrate sometimes.  They don't eat plants at all but can uproot a plant if the root system is small and non-established, or eat the decaying roots if they are dead.

 

[mrhidley]

Not all snails eat plants. Even shrimp would eat damaged/dying plants.
 
What you have is probably malaysian trumpet snains that live in the substrate(cone shaped). You can see their shells sticking out of the substrate sometimes.  They don't eat plants at all but can uproot a plant if the root system is small and non-established, or eat the decaying roots if they are dead.

 
Honestly, they eat my plants, they're hungry little buggers! Mine live on top of the substrate, and spend a lot of time on the glass, they only bury themselves very occasionally.

 

[snazy]

 

Not all snails eat plants. Even shrimp would eat damaged/dying plants.
 
What you have is probably malaysian trumpet snains that live in the substrate(cone shaped). You can see their shells sticking out of the substrate sometimes.  They don't eat plants at all but can uproot a plant if the root system is small and non-established, or eat the decaying roots if they are dead.

 
Honestly, they eat my plants, they're hungry little Bad word removed! Mine live on top of the substrate, and spend a lot of time on the glass, they only bury themselves very occasionally.
 

 
Feed them some lettuce or cucumber

 

[Jessman]

thanks guys, ended up getting 12 malaysian trumpet snails, they will multiply soon so will have more, and they look pretty good