Apple Snails ... How To Get 'em Gone?

[frodo11]

12 gal tank, black gravel fish, a snail and 100+ golden pokka dots ... I've gone from "oh, cool, another clutch of snail eggs" to scraping 'em off and pitching them ... they gotta go ...

What is the best way to get them to congragate so I can scoop 'em up in bunches?

Thought I read something somewhere about lettuce or steamed zucchini on a string, leave overnight and reel 'em in in the morning ...

Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments?

Thanks

 

[3BigGarras]

Depends really, if you want rid of them quick then i would suggest assassin snails with a lettuce leaf, will take a few days but most of them would be gone, also if your quick enough the assassin snails wont breed!!

Win win

 

[fluttermoth]

Asassins eat only two or three snails a week though. They're good to keep numbers under control in a 'normal' tank, but they'll struggle to control a really bad infestation.

Trapping is your best bet. Try a few different fruits and veg until you find the one that works well. Also; put your bait in an open (clean!) margarine tub or jar, as I find when you try and pick them up, they all drop off

 

[frodo11]

Margarine tub (with some small holes to let the water drain) ... good idea, thanks

 

[fluttermoth]

All fishkeepers should keep a selection of clean ice cream and margarine tubs, of different sizes, for emergencies, IMO!

You can make almost anything out of them; fry traps, snail traps, air driven filters; and they're really useful for catching catfish and loaches that can be spiky and get caught up in nets.