Killing Snails

[Sorachi]

Snails. They really are kind of cute, but they chew up all my plants. I'd like to keep some, but they multiply a lot.

When I've already gathered up the snails, I have no idea what to do with them next. Copper death seems long and painful, and I really can't SQUISH them. I feel like I'm cruely murdering tens of innocent, sweet snails every night. I know not to wash them down the sink or toilet either. What is a good way to kill them that's quick, easy and painless? :c
Is squishing really the best route? Please help, o knowledgeable ones!

 

[mislisa]

i think clove oil will work... it works on fish and is a natural alternative.

 

[Baccus]

In their natural habitat they would encounter dry times where their ponds etc have dried up. So if you have a garden (not too close to your doors or windows) you could put the snails in that and let them die a natural death but be warned they do get rather smelly. I have been putting excess snails in my compost bins so they are doing some good for my yard. Give the sails an inch and they'll take over your entire tank. To try and steel your resolve with squishing the snails feed them back to your fish, they will love scoffing the squashed snails and then you might not feel that the snails died in vain.

 

[Caprichoso]

I give mine to my mom and she puts them in her goldfish tank. I prefer that to crushing them or dumping them down the drain. I can't kill them personally, I would feel bad if I did.

 

[StandbySetting]

Snails shouldn't eat healthy plants, out of interest what snails have you got? That I know of Saluwesi Snails and only some species of Apple snail are capable of eating plants in the hobby.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Some one in another thread mentioned that their tadpoles (not sure the variety of frog/toad they are) were sucking the snails in their tank out of the shells... Maybe you could get some hungry tads?!

 

[Aqua Tom]

Assassin Snails will do the job for you & dont multiply very fast, also they have a monetary value so if you do get a few babies you can sell the adults on.

 

[chrisodapz]

Assassin Snails will do the job for you & dont multiply very fast, also they have a monetary value so if you do get a few babies you can sell the adults on.

i bought 2 assassin snails and they seemed to disappear but how many do you think is needed in a 125L tank to keep snails at bay as ive got some in my tank and i had to remove some of them as they were multiplying so fast.

 

[Caprichoso]

Snails will multiply more if there is a lot of detritus in the tank or when over feeding. They will still multiply anyway but not as quickly. Usually by the time you see the snails, you have a lot. Pest snails will eat most plants healthy or not, it won't matter. If you want snails then buy some that serve a purpose. For example: Malaysian Trumpet snails-aerate substrate, don't eat plants. Assassin snails- kill some pest snails, don't eat plants. Spixi snails- attractive, kill Hydra, eat algae don't eat plants(wild ones usually don't). Those are just a few and there are many more attractive snails that are nice to keep in the tank. As far as your average pond snail, they will multiply a lot and because they are so small, don't really look nice(IMO). You can get rid of them by manual removal(pick them out, bait them with lettuce etc) or since you want snails, get an assassin snail. You generally need about 1 snail per 2 gallons if you want any hope of making a dent in a large population of snails. After your pond snails are gone, you can keep the assassin snails as they will eat leftover fish food. A word of caution: Assassin snails in large numbers have been known to take down a snail larger than them. I haven't experienced this myself but have heard a few stories about apple snails being killed by them. They won't eat each other though. Bottom line, your pond snails will continue to chew your plants.

 

[StandbySetting]

Pond snails don't eat aquarium plants, they're not equipped for it, I and many others keep planted tanks and I've never had any plants damaged due to common Pond Snails.

 

[Caprichoso]

Pond snails don't eat aquarium plants, they're not equipped for it, I and many others keep planted tanks and I've never had any plants damaged due to common Pond Snails.

Then we are not talking about the same snails. Ramshorn and those little spotted snails(don't know the name) eat plants. I always see them referred to as "pond snails". They eat plants without a doubt.

 

[StandbySetting]

I've kept Rams horn snails, never had problems with them eating plants, but then again most of my plants have thicker leave, so I guess it could depend on the species you keep, unsure of the species of spotted snail you're referring to though.

OP, what plants are you keeping?

 

[Caprichoso]

I've kept Rams horn snails, never had problems with them eating plants, but then again most of my plants have thicker leave, so I guess it could depend on the species you keep, unsure of the species of spotted snail you're referring to though.

OP, what plants are you keeping?

You're right, certain plants seem to be impervious to the snails. I've never seen holes in my java fern, anubias or hornwort but they love hygrophilia, crypts(not as much), lotus, amazons, pygmy chain sword, vallisneria to name a few I've seen them munching on.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Assassin Snails will do the job for you & dont multiply very fast, also they have a monetary value so if you do get a few babies you can sell the adults on.

i bought 2 assassin snails and they seemed to disappear but how many do you think is needed in a 125L tank to keep snails at bay as ive got some in my tank and i had to remove some of them as they were multiplying so fast.

I have 7 in my 180 litre & they do a great job. As for them dissapearing, they spend an awful lot of time burried in the substrate so its an easy mistake to make that they have gone.

5 assasssin snails will keep your 125L aquarium pest snail free.


Tom

 

[Ethan040]

I have mts in my shrimp tank i crush the little ones on the glass and the shrimp love what's left over they all pile on it like they have never been fed.