snails!!!

[carrcn]

Okay, I've noticed that the snail population in my tank is rapidly increasing. It's on an exponential curve, and would like to solve it. I've been picking snails out by hand over the last couple of weeks, removing about 20 or so each time, but I'm sure there's still more in there. Is there a fish out there that will eat them and still be considered a community fish.

I know puffers eat them, but I don't have a brackish tank and don't want one. Was thinking clown loaches might eat them, but I don't have the room for a school of them, so any other suggestions woud be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Nisha]

I'm not too sure of a fish that would eat snails.
What has worked for some people is to place some cucumber in the tank and usually the snails will collect on it over time. Then just take it out and get rid off it. Might help to flush out more elusive snails.
Hope this helps.

 

[jflowers]

Alot of the botia species eat snails you dont have to go for anything as large as clowns. Wish you lived near me i need baby snails for my SAP's. Have you tried putting a lettuce leaf in b4 bed then taking it out in the morning when it will be covered in snails. Seen that suggested several times on here. Also there is a pinned topic in the invertibrates section on getting rid of pest snails.

Jon

 

[MAM]

puffers in a community setup is a no-no. drives me nuts when people recommend that as a snail solution (had to rant).

clown loaches get large and most likely too big for your tank. there are many other loach species out there as mentioned. look around at your stores. i have four zebra loaches, took care of the snails in my 20 gal in about 2 or 3 weeks. haven't seen a snail in there in ages. keep in mind, loaches do best in groups of 3 or more so make sure you have a big enough tank if you go with loaches.

the veggie methods mentioned work too, but they will take some time.

 

[Teelie]

Another alternative is don't feed the tank so much. They only reproduce in large numbers when food is plentiful.

 

[jflowers]

MAM did anyone recommend puffers? Agree with your rant but dont see anybody suggesting them.

Jon

 

[Teelie]

Carron did; "I know puffers eat them, but I don't have a brackish tank and don't want one."

 

[jflowers]

Ok yer, sorry MAM. Didnt seem that they were suggesting as a solution to the snail problem, just showing thier knowledge that puffers eat snails and that they dont want them.

Jon

 

[benz_020]

do you have an under ground filter? thing

the snails get underneith thoes and lay hundreds if not thousands of eggs underneith it

that would be where they are coming from.


they did it to me.

 

[NickT]

i offerd my lfs $2 more than they where selling there clown loaches for to barrow a fue. told em they cold keep the $2 for loaning them and the rest could be colataral. they wherre cool with it but insted i got kuhli loaches. the khulis eat teh egg clutches and keep teh little buggers under control.

 

[Teelie]

do you have an under ground filter? thing

the snails get underneith thoes and lay hundreds if not thousands of eggs underneith it

that would be where they are coming from.


they did it to me.

Depends on the species though. Some lay eggs above the waterline where it's easy to pick them up and take care of them.

 

[carrcn]

No underground filter, but I've got a sizable chunk of wood in there and I did find a group of eggs on it, but it's got so many cracks and crevices, there's no way I'll be able to get them all. I think I will try some loaches. I've got some extra room in the tank anyways, so I'll try to find a suitable type for my tank. Or if not, I'll go with the cucumber thing. I had thought of that, but since I don't eat cucumbers, I don't have any on hand.

And no, I didn't see anyone suggesting puffers for the community tank either. I put that in to rule them out because they're not an option for my tank. I just didn't want any replies telling me to get puffers.

Thanks for the help. See how it goes.