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Snails

Posted:
Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:01 am
by Indy
My tank is all of a sudden loaded with snails. I have not introduced anything new to the tank and don't know where they may have come from.
Does anyone know of a way to get rid of them. I have been using a product called "Had A Snail" and that has not seemed to help.
Re: Snails

Posted:
Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:48 am
by Barb Okla
DO you have live plants?? They seem to mostly come into a tank through live plants. SNAILS are a plus if you do live plants as they eat the algae on the leaves and not the plant them selves.. IF you have African cichlds, they EAT snails.. IF you have a Puffer fish OR want one in the future, keep the snails as they need the shells to keep their teeth short.. So really not a problem unless you have guppys or other tropical fish.. I had a bunch in one tank, but my Moorii Dolphins ate them all.. Bummer really as now the FAKE plants have algae and I have to take them out and gently scrub them with a brush.. Snails eat algae so they do a good job on keeping the tank cleaner, less work for you.. I like snails for this reason.. To many thou and all you have to do is add in a ANY AFRICAN cichild and in a weeks time OR so, no snails.
Now as you have added in a herbicide to kill out the snails, you need to do a water change IF you do the African cichlids/Puffer-eat-snails way.. IF not, then just net them out to a DRY bucket, and that will KILL them too but this wont' get them all, just keep the numbers down..
Taking the tank down to NOTHING and letting it DRY Completly is the sure way to kill out ALL the snails.. Use hot water in the substrate to kill them out and LET IT DRY for days in the hot sun.. This is a good way with out using chems to kil the snails.. IF this is not practical way for you to go due to tank size, do the African cichilds/Puffer deal and watch them disapear faster..
Re: Snails

Posted:
Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:55 pm
by DanRad
Hi, Indie! I agree with Barb. I like to have snails in the tank. Trouble is, they're tough to keep with most cichlids, as once the cichlids reach any size at all, they eat them with relish (or plain!). The only exception to this so far seems to be my Pollenis (they also mostly allow plants to survive with them too!). Loaches, bettas, and various other fish are also avid snail eaters. Like Barb said, if you have enough of them they really do a good job of algae cleaning -- a job I hate! Beyond the utility though, I've always found them interesting to watch in their own right.
Re: Snails

Posted:
Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:52 am
by Indy
Thanks Guys! The snails are getting worse. The filters are clogged with them and they are all over the glass. My fish don't seem to be bothering (eating) them. Do you think it would be okay to put a African Cichlid into a all south American tank? If so which one would you recommend to eat the snails?
Re: Snails

Posted:
Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:04 am
by DanRad
Hi, Indy! What kind of snails are they? Also, remind me what fish you currently have in the tank.
Re: Snails

Posted:
Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:04 am
by Indy
Hi Dan,
Attached is a picture (a little blurry) of one of the snails. My profile shows what fish I have in the tank.
thanks for the help, these things are driving me crazy.
Re: Snails

Posted:
Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:43 am
by DanRad
Hi, Indy: Pic didn't come thru. Try emailing it to me. I'd like to see them -- My O's and Severums eat any snails they can get into their mouths.
Re: Snails

Posted:
Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:10 am
by Indy
Thanks for the advise Dan. Got 2 Puffers and put them in the tank. Poof,

no more snails.
Paul