Snails and what is the truth

[Studz]

Hi,

I have heard many people tell me many different things about pond snails, but what is the truth?

When I recently bought some plants for my tank, I was told they had been treated for snails, which has turned out to be a total lie as I keep finding the dang things in my tank.

Are they good to have in the tank? or not?

thanks,

 

[Anonymous]

I've found that they gnaw on my live plants, and the leaves get pin holes in them. I've since started to remove them...whenever they get to the top of the tank, I grab 'em. :twisted:

~wings~

 

[Anonymous]

Oh yeah...some say a clown loach will rid them too.

~wings~

 

[fishfanatic2]

I have found nothing wrong with the multiple kinds of snails that I have found in my tank. They really do no harm unless you find them munching on your plants, and otherwise they are pretty good at controlling algae.

Plus I think they're cool. 8)

 

[Studz]

I've found that they gnaw on my live plants, and the leaves get pin holes in them. I've since started to remove them...whenever they get to the top of the tank, I grab 'em. :twisted:

~wings~

right that will explain the wholes in the Echinodorus x barthii

are there any treatments I can buy, that are not harmful to my fish?

thanks

 

[fishfanatic2]

http://www.petsolutions.com/Had-A-Snail ... 00-I-.aspx

If you do see holes in the plants, products like this are available.

A google search or a search at any other large online fish retailer should give you something like this.

 

[Studz]

thanks for that

 

[Anonymous]

Had-a-Snail. What a great name. lol

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

All the snails are is simply build in cleaner crews. As you found out almost totally unaviodable. At first you will get a snail bloom as the numerous eggs hatch out. But in a few months the number will subside as the tank balances out.

Just part of running a planted tank.

 

[quietreef]

Hi there:

About your snails, there are other ways to get rid of them *if you want to*. One is to put a piece of par-boiled potato in the tank, and after a day it will be covered in snails, then just remove the potato.

Yes, clown loaches will rid your tank of them but probably eat your plants too and the loaches get big.

When introducing new plants, you can soak them in a mild potassium permanganate solution for about 20 minutes, and that will kill any hitchhiking snails. then rinse, then plant.

I hope this helps,
quietreef

 

[Anonymous]

the only real dangers with snails are:

if they reach too large a population, and then die-off, for whatever reason, you may have a severe pollution problem as a result (think about 200 snails rotting )

healthy plant tissue may get attacked/eaten if there isn't enough 'softer' food available for the larger population

plants should be taken out of the water-run your thumb carefully across the leave surfaces, you should be able to feel the gelatinous egg cases-peel/scrape off, and remove (meds won't penetrate the egg 'case').

plants can be dipped in alum, for about 10 minutes (1 teaspoon of alum to about 2 gallons/water).

any copper medication (like had a snail) can also be used-add slowly over a few days until you see the snails start to drop (DO NOT USE THIS METHOD if you have catfish or loaches present)

potato, as mentioned above, or a lettuce leaf, can be used a 'bait'-left overnite on the gravel, and lifted out first thing every morning, repeat until all are gone)

loaches do not harm plants.period, and clown loaches will make short work of the young snails expertly

 

[Studz]

well I have a clownloach, who is very shy, he/she only comes out when the lights are off.
hopefully it will win the battle over the snails for me.

thanks for your help, from having a tank for a month or so now, and all the help you guys have given me, I've been able to help other people to. great advice, and its working well. keep it up

 

[Anonymous]

well I have a clownloach, who is very shy, he/she only comes out when the lights are off.
hopefully it will win the battle over the snails for me.

thanks for your help, from having a tank for a month or so now, and all the help you guys have given me, I've been able to help other people to. great advice, and its working well. keep it up

More than anything else that is what these boards are all about. Keep us posted.

 

[Anonymous]

well I have a clownloach, who is very shy, he/she only comes out when the lights are off.
hopefully it will win the battle over the snails for me.

thanks for your help, from having a tank for a month or so now, and all the help you guys have given me, I've been able to help other people to. great advice, and its working well. keep it up

just an fyi...

the clown loaches have a special spine that's shaped like a scythe (sp?), almost, that fits in a groove right under each eye

the spine can be extended out, and the loach literally uses it as a can opener, to pry the operculum of the snail open (the 'door' of the shell)

if you lift a clown loach out of the water in a net, and look down on it from above, you can watch the spines flick out - they can also give you a nice poke, so do it carefully-won't hurt the fish, and it's pretty cool to see

 

[tazdevil]

you can watch the spines flick out - they can also give you a nice poke, so do it carefully-won't hurt the fish, and it's pretty cool to see

yeah, vitz forgot to tell me about that when he explained removal of a isopod from a flame angel.

 

[usafresq1]

snails are found in any type of watery environment if you don't like them a clown loach will do the trick.

 

[Anonymous]

you can watch the spines flick out - they can also give you a nice poke, so do it carefully-won't hurt the fish, and it's pretty cool to see

yeah, vitz forgot to tell me about that when he explained removal of a isopod from a flame angel.

btw, fyi

dwarf angels also have an opercular spine, like their larger 'counterparts' (angels)


































happy now? :twisted: :wink:

 

[Studz]

lol