macron12388
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2010
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi, I recently bought two zebra snails, they are very pretty to watch. I fear however; My tank is not too big, only a little more than 3 gallons for 1 male betta, two snails and two flourishing live plants. The water is cycled and all stats seem okay, however I am afraid the snails are beginning to run out of the small amount of algae that had grown in the tank. Here is my experimental solution:
1. I thinly slice some cucumber. (I read somewhere zebra snails might eat blanched vegetables)
2. I have a smaller aquarium bowl that is empty, I had it set up as a "hospital tank".
3. I will place the cucumbers in said bowl, and leave them out in direct sunlight.
4. I hear that algae spores are very common, and so with the more direct sunlight hopefully algae will begin to grow in that small tank and in the process cover the cucumber slices which I can then place in my other aquarium as make shift "algae wafers", or freeze dry them for later use.
I am not an expert, and have only been in the aquarium hobby recently for little over a year, even though I used to have an aquarium when I was younger, but dropped the hobby. I would like to hear your input, and/or advice, maybe if you think this will work?
Thanks
EDIT: Okay, I've done some more reading up, according to some sources, "Neritina natalensis" PREFERS algea, however, they will feed on anything similar e.g. boiled vegetables, etc. and will even resort to eating plants they do not usually eat if food is to be found somewhere else.
I placed 2 thin cucumber slices and placed each of the snails on their own slice, AND!!!!!!!!!!
They seem to love it. They were a bit sluggish, but when they sensed/tasted that cucmber with their little feelers they seemed to wake up, and are very voraciously going around the cucumber slice in what I'm sure is an eating fest. I'll update their state here for a few more days and tell if their new diet of varied veges + a little algae works.
1. I thinly slice some cucumber. (I read somewhere zebra snails might eat blanched vegetables)
2. I have a smaller aquarium bowl that is empty, I had it set up as a "hospital tank".
3. I will place the cucumbers in said bowl, and leave them out in direct sunlight.
4. I hear that algae spores are very common, and so with the more direct sunlight hopefully algae will begin to grow in that small tank and in the process cover the cucumber slices which I can then place in my other aquarium as make shift "algae wafers", or freeze dry them for later use.
I am not an expert, and have only been in the aquarium hobby recently for little over a year, even though I used to have an aquarium when I was younger, but dropped the hobby. I would like to hear your input, and/or advice, maybe if you think this will work?
Thanks
EDIT: Okay, I've done some more reading up, according to some sources, "Neritina natalensis" PREFERS algea, however, they will feed on anything similar e.g. boiled vegetables, etc. and will even resort to eating plants they do not usually eat if food is to be found somewhere else.
I placed 2 thin cucumber slices and placed each of the snails on their own slice, AND!!!!!!!!!!
They seem to love it. They were a bit sluggish, but when they sensed/tasted that cucmber with their little feelers they seemed to wake up, and are very voraciously going around the cucumber slice in what I'm sure is an eating fest. I'll update their state here for a few more days and tell if their new diet of varied veges + a little algae works.
