Dealing with pest snails!

🐠 April TOTM Starts Now! 🐠
FishForums.net Tank of the Month!
Click here to enter!

fluttermoth

The current Mrs Treguard ;)
Staff member
Global Moderator ⚒️
Joined
Sep 6, 2010
Messages
15,752
Reaction score
345
Location
GB
It won't hurt the tigers to eat cucumber or lettuce, but you'll probably find they leave it pretty much alone, though they will have a peck at it. Mine love the tomato I put in for my plec and snails (I like snails, I feed mine :blush: )
 

Clarousel

Fishaholic
Joined
Jul 28, 2011
Messages
479
Reaction score
0
It won't hurt the tigers to eat cucumber or lettuce, but you'll probably find they leave it pretty much alone, though they will have a peck at it. Mine love the tomato I put in for my plec and snails (I like snails, I feed mine :blush: )

Phew that's a relief! Shall try it out one of these days and see if it works. I really dislike the snails :shout: (I've tried feeding my pleco but he doesn't seem to notice the food...)
 

mtbdean

Fish Crazy
Joined
Oct 12, 2010
Messages
247
Reaction score
0
Location
Somerset UK
I purchased 10x Assasin Snails off the net, and within a week, my tank was rid of snails (except the Assasin's), also they breed very slowly, and when they do, you can sell them on!

I had all different types, mostly Tadpole Snails and MTS.
 

MisssMarie

Fish Addict
Joined
Dec 2, 2011
Messages
885
Reaction score
1
Location
US
If anyone wants to dispose of a few snails, let me know! Shoot me a pm and I'm willing to take em off your hands haha
 

Mr Melt

Fishaholic
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
517
Reaction score
0
Location
SE
Is it strange that I'm in a dilemma - I don't want to kill innocent snails, yet they're definitely breeding in my tanks...... =/
 

gregswimm

Fish Addict
Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Messages
860
Reaction score
0
Location
Tampa FL US
Julidochromis marlieri loves to eat the little MTS, a breeding pair in my 55 helps keep my MTS population very under control. :good:
 

Bugdozer

Fishaholic
Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
450
Reaction score
0
Location
Hastings
For what it's worth, black phantom tetras appear to like eating common pond snail eggs - when they spot them. They don't seem to see them very easily but when they do they will pluck at them until the whole blob is eaten. I wouldn't think it's a very efficient method of control though.
 

fluttermoth

The current Mrs Treguard ;)
Staff member
Global Moderator ⚒️
Joined
Sep 6, 2010
Messages
15,752
Reaction score
345
Location
GB
Sorry it took so long to reply to your post, westmidsgal!
 
Assassin's aren't likely to kill an apple snail, but it has been known for them to hunt and attack apples.
 
Not worth the risk, IMO.
 

gregswimm

Fish Addict
Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Messages
860
Reaction score
0
Location
Tampa FL US
If you have the right an amazon puffer it will decimate the snail population.  I don't recommend adding one just to deal with snails though. 
 

Snails88

New Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2013
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
US
*Ahem*...
 
Do please excuse my invading, but I greatly respect snails.  I removed these "pests" from my sister's tank and they now take up residence in their own little tank in my room, which is precisely why I joined the forum.
 
(Yes, I am a minor, which accounts for my being crazy).  
 
But of course, it's a lot different when you have a small outbreak like that in her tank.  Outbreaks of hundreds like you are describing would be quite a bit different.
 
Meet Bob, George, Shawn, Caspian, Georgina, and Jasper.
 

DreamertK

Fish Herder
Joined
Oct 12, 2012
Messages
1,150
Reaction score
0
I have a "pest" snail that's become a beautiful ramshorn in my shrimp tank. But this is a single snail, that means it's incapable of reproduction. If you have quite a few, they'll get up there in numbers without too much help. If you get even one assassin snail, you would wipe out the entire population with time. There's a fine balance of controlling their population. 
 
Did you have any particular questions or just wanted to make an introduction?  :p Pics are always welcome too.
 

stanleo

Fish Herder
Tank of the Month!
Joined
Apr 6, 2013
Messages
1,065
Reaction score
21
Location
US
I don't like pest snails either. If they didn't breed so fast it wouldn't be an issue.  Assassins are the way to go. They are nice looking and 1 for every 5 gallons of tank will get the population under control in less than a month. I had a huge infestation in both my FW tanks.
 

GuppyGirl20

Fishaholic
Joined
Jan 8, 2014
Messages
403
Reaction score
0
Location
US
I just simply picked them out either when I saw a bunch and when I did water changes. Was slow and steady but it worked.
 

Most reactions

Top