Mts - How Many Are Too Many?

[ag-au]

Hey all,
  Just writing today to inquire about Malaysian Trumpet Snails. I was given 2 from our LFS as I wanted to aerate my sand substrate. Well, they do this very well. I also love seeing their trails that they leave. I see the 2 we first purchased a lot, and now, they had babies. Should I be worried about too many of these guys? I know other snail species really turn the water toxic when they die. I understand this is true for the larger of the species, however, if I have a few die around the same time, that to me is like 1 big snail dying. Should I be controlling their population? Or will it self regulate when there are too many snails and not enough food? I imagine they will outbreed the food source. I have a lightly planted sand substrate tank. I really like them I'm just worried I may have overlooked something as I usually do with my optimistic mentality lol

 

[baker360360]

Amount of food is the best way to control numbers. Lots of extra food about = lots of mts , little food = less mts. But I don't even know how you can see how many you have as they are mostly under the sibstrate. I probably have hundreds in my sand now. Don't know why lots would die at the same time. You should be fine. Just keep regular water changes and any by products from dead snails should be reduced.

 

[ag-au]

Thanks for the info! And well I have the grow light on for 8hrs/day and shut it off and use a low powered light to check out the tank after the grow light goes off. They come out, and I was just looking the other day and I spotted a baby MTS and when I saw one I saw a bunch of others stuck out on the glass, too! I think these guys are cute. I have a 50x lens and the babies look good! And I do 20% changes twice a week. Keeps it nice and clean. And the food I'm mainly talking about the plant material. I just have the betta and I control his food well. The pellets are easy but getting the right amount of blood worms is a bit tougher. Getting it down, though. Thanks again for the reply!

 

[baker360360]

Thanks for the info! And well I have the grow light on for 8hrs/day and shut it off and use a low powered light to check out the tank after the grow light goes off. They come out, and I was just looking the other day and I spotted a baby MTS and when I saw one I saw a bunch of others stuck out on the glass, too! I think these guys are cute. I have a 50x lens and the babies look good! And I do 20% changes twice a week. Keeps it nice and clean. And the food I'm mainly talking about the plant material. I just have the betta and I control his food well. The pellets are easy but getting the right amount of blood worms is a bit tougher. Getting it down, though. Thanks again for the reply!

Sounds good, don't think you will end up with to many then. Have you got any that are really big? I now and again see one that looks massive compared to the others. Wonder why? Maybe it's a lot older

 

[ag-au]

I think it's the age, yeah. The oldest ones we have are the first two, I imagine they are the first as they are much larger than the others. Some are about half an inch big thus far. I'll try and snap a pic of the biggest ones. I noticed their body is huge, the part coming out of the shell, has almost twice as much visible mass as the half inchers. I love snails! My girlfriend is getting nervous on the amount of babies. We might do the food bowl trap if they start getting big and a problem. Remember guys, these guys are considered pests and shouldn't be let out into your local nature! Be careful!