overrun by snails

[debiasir]

My tank is overrun by these little snails. i have just counted about 15 of them. they are very small with the biggest at 5mm. will they be harmful to the fish and whats the best way of getting rid of them. adding a snail eating fish is not an option.

Thanks

 

[KentBlokey]

I've not had this problem - Yet! Just the odd few.

But have read that people leaving piece of lettuce or cucumber/courgette in over night and lifting that out with snails in tow...

There's chemical treatments available but who wants to be adding them?

And then there's just picking them out by hand.

Check in your filter, depending on what filter you have, I often find a few in my Juwel filter.

Oh, and they shouldn't be harmful to your fish, as they are food for some fish!

 

[debiasir]

cool well if they wont harm the fish i may just pick them out as and when i see one.

I def dont want to be adding chemicals to the tank.

at the minute i have an apple snail a BN plec, guppies and neons and i dont think they like snails on their menu.

 

[boxman]

Hi Deb

Clown loach will munch on them happily - but make sure your tank is big enough (50g+ needed apparently).

So living so close to france you don't like to eat snails either

 

[Bloo]

If they are Malaysian Trumpet snail, no fish will touch them.
Just pick them out by hand. If you have a population explosion, feed your fish less often or less food at each meal. Any surplus food will be eaten by the snails and they will populate a lot quicker than when they have more food to feed on.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Clown loaches get far too big for most tanks. Some of the smaller loaches eat snails however. I just smush them against the glass, but as said, check your filter as they hang around in there. Also try feeding less.

 

[KentBlokey]

Polkadot Loaches are great Snail eaters and don't grow very big.

 

[Bloo]

Guys I think you missed this bit :

adding a snail eating fish is not an option

 

[OohFeeshy]

Oops... well my excuse is I was replying to the clown loach comment

 

[willtang3000]

you can get these round traps for snails you put lettuce or cucumber in and they can get in but can't get out lol

 

[debiasir]

thanks for all the ideas

i have just picked out 10 of the little buggers

 

[Whitey]

I have encountered these badboys before, i dont think they ahrm your fish but they look terrible in great numbers and they spawn faster than...erm....something fast. But your best of picking all the ones u can asap and u can get a med to treat these, but if u dont wanna add chems thats entirely up to u. Good luck.

 

[Bloo]

I accidentally got some in once when buying plants. I absolutely hate snails and it took me quite a while to notice quite a few in my gravel. Sneaky little slimy chaps the are ! lol
But I just picked them all out by hand the second I spotted them (no snail meds used) and within a couple of weeks they were completely gone. That was about 2 years ago now, and no snails since then.

 

[LifeBear]

If you can't add a snail eater, you need to pick them out. DO NOT use chemical snail removers, as you said you have an apple snail. A snail is a snail as far as these chems are concerned.