Solution To Snail Problems?

[Gilli]

Found this browsing on the net - anyone got them?

The Assassin Snail is an ironic solution to the problem of snails over-running an aquarium, since it has the ability to hunt down and kill other snails. Assassin snails will hunt for any similar sized or smaller snail of another species and literally suck it out of its shell. They are of particular use in controlling the tricky Malayan Trumpet Snail, which can rapidly reproduce and overrun an aquarium. Even the other snails seem to know they are in trouble when assassins are added to the tank, since they can often be seen changing habits and heading up to the surface.
Assassin snails are reportedly not a fast reproducer, so one snail problem will not be swapped for another, and if they do reproduce at least they have value and can be sold on or given away. Once the assassins have cleared up any other snails, which may take some time depending on numbers, they will happily feed on debris and algae wafers although they are not a great algae eater. The assassin snail does not tend to eat its own kind and has a quite attractive shell, so a few can be an ideal addition to a tank in their own right, or as a method to control other snail populations.
No special requirements are needed to keep these snails and they will settle into most tanks without predators.

Aquarium set-up and information
Aquarium suitability: 5/5
Sociability rating: 9/10
Area of tank: Bottom
Aquarium water conditions: 6-8.5, vs,s,m,h,vh
Feeding: Other snails! will also scavenge and eat sinking foods or wafers
Minimum tank size: 0cm
Min / Max number in tank:

Fact File

Other common names: Beast Snail, killer Snail

Origin: Indonesia

Natural habitat:

Size: 2cm

Behavior: Active on surface both during day and night, sometimes dormant

Breeding: Lays eggs

Natural water conditions:

 

[Hawkins]

yee lol i read that before.. its funny

they breed but at a slower rate than the other snails so they are 'less' of a problem

 

[doresy]

Watching this with interest

Is there a downside to these critters?

Where can we get them?

 

[Nick16]

i want one!!!

 

[arron]

I've got one, i actually bought 2 but when i got home (2 hours from the shop) it turned out one was just a shell ...... but it does indeed kill and eat other snails i need a lot more as my planted tank is getting slightly overun with pest snails ..... my mate got two at the same time for his small tank and they have all but cleared up in there ....... i got mine from maidenhead aquatics in peterbough they had loads but it was about 3 months since i went so i'm unsure if they still have them ...... but whilst we are on the subject anyone got any good ways to rid a tank of snails, it's a 30x18x24 high tech planted tank i've thought about clown loaches but as i have loads of breeding cherry shrimp in there i think they may eat them before the snails so i've ruled them out , the tank has 3 plecs in but they don't appear to bother with the snails ...... most of the snails are very small at the moment they've flared up after a plant died and i was slow talking it out .
any advice is always good
Cheers Arron


Ps i know the best idea is go back to peterbough but i don't drive and they don't post =/

 

[blue acara]

Use a thing called Aquatic wormer plus. Its a fish medication use to cure flukes but it also kills snails, all of them will die. Dose again a week or so later to kill any that were eggs. Fish seem uneffected during dosing. Shrimp dont like it but should survive.

 

[arron]

I might use that , although i'm a little bit concerned about my shrimp as i have quite a few different types and plenty of them ...... i once got a bit carried away when expirimenting with different doses for my tank with plant food and killed aload and have beeen scared to put anything in since.

 

[Wolfenrook]

I might use that , although i'm a little bit concerned about my shrimp as i have quite a few different types and plenty of them ...... i once got a bit carried away when expirimenting with different doses for my tank with plant food and killed aload and have beeen scared to put anything in since.

You are right to be careful. With shrimp it is best to steer clear of chemical solutions where possible, you just never know whether you shrimp are going to object or not.

By far the simplest solution to snail problems usually though is to just reduce how much you feed. Most often huge outbreaks occur when you have been overfeeding. Other than using predators for removal, mechanical removal is often the best choice. Fish love a nice squished snail, as do shrimp.

Ade