Question for people with lots of snails....

[julielynn47]

Or if you have had them in the past....

How do you make sure your fish get food? Seriously, my fish are having to fight for food and they are losing the battle.

As soon as food touches the bottom of the tank the snails on are it. The fish just swim around and nudge the snails, but the snail won't give an inch.

The only thing I can think of doing is just getting rid of the snails. Any ideas anyone?

 

[ThePlecoGuy]

Have you tried assassin snails? I know it's another snale but they are prettier and they eat other snails. They are live bearers but it's easy to maintain the numbers. Depending on the size of your tank I would put 3-5 in there and in a month or so you should see a difference. Plus if you get too many assassin snails you LFS will be far happier taking them off you then nuisance snails any day.

 

[fluttermoth]

Try putting some algae wafers, or even your normal fish food, on a saucer or in a clean jar, then take it out when the snails have got on/in there. That'll help reduce your numbers.

 

[Toney]

Feed the snails to the fish

 

[julielynn47]

The fish won't eat the snails. Even my Betta will not eat the snails. Or maybe he is eating them come to think of it, because the population in his tank is very low. It is also not too bad in the 55. But the 75 is out of control.

I have 3 cories and a powder blue gourami in the 75. The cories can't eat, the snails take over everything that hit the bottom. the gourami gets nothing unless he gets it before it hits bottom. He swims the front glass looking as if he is begging to food.

I know I can put some zucchini in the tank and they will cover it up and then I can get them out. I hate to just throw them out to die. I guess I could try putting them in our pond. I guess that would hurt anything. The bass and perch would probably make short work of them.

I have no where to buy assassin snails so that won't work.

I thought the pictus would eat them, and I think they eat some of them, but they died and so that is that there.

I don't mind some snails...I don't mind a lot of snails...but I don't want only snails...if that makes sense.

 

[julielynn47]

I just walked by the tank again and it is just awful.. I am going to put some zucchini in the tank tonight and tomorrow just harvest them out on it. I don't know what I will do with them, and if they were not preventing my fish from eating I would just let them be...but they are preventing the fish from eating. I swear I have never seen anything like this before.

I like snails but this is ridiculous...

 

[Toney]

Smash the snails for the fish, ive been smashing over 10 bladders a day and I'm not getting ahead...

 

[julielynn47]

Ick!! I don't know that I could smash them LOL but if that isn't working for you it probably wouldn't work for me either.

I now have 3 slices of zucchini in the tank...we shall if I can even see the zucchini in the morning. I probably won't be able to. I am sure all I will see is a snail ball.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

Don't throw them out in your pond alive! They are probably not native and could wreak havoc on an ecosystem. I go for getting them out and salting them. I did that for my pond snail problem. No smashing involved. Just get a real high concentration of salt and water in a separate bowl. When you take them out dump them in and bye bye snail. You just have to keep doing it daily for a while.

 

[FroFro]

Ick!! I don't know that I could smash them LOL but if that isn't working for you it probably wouldn't work for me either.

I now have 3 slices of zucchini in the tank...we shall if I can even see the zucchini in the morning. I probably won't be able to. I am sure all I will see is a snail ball.

Sounds like you have a snail infestation and killing them is the best option to control their population. Harvest them up and place them in a bucket with shallow water, preferably a bucket you don't use for water changes. You can either use salt, bleach, or 71% or 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol and mix it in with the water. A dead pest is the best. I've never had issues with snails as I take every precaution to prevent them possible, but I have used diluted rubbing alcohol/water/dish soap solutions around my house before I moved to kill stink bugs along the garden/in the house. I never cared to use pesticides because of my cat and dog. The rubbing alcohol is safe for surfaces if diluted and it basically melts through a stink bug (any bug for that matter) exoskeleton and they asphyxiate to death !

 

[NickAu]

I have no where to buy assassin snails so that won't work.

Buy them on line evilbay or amazon or even from a fish shop that sells online.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Assassin-Snails-Live-Freshwater-Aquarium-Snail-/142229602254
https://www.petsolutions.com/C/Freshwater-Invertebrates/I/Assassin-Snail.aspx
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049RK7QW/?tag=ff0d01-20


Your snail population is exploding because they have lots of food, trapping may be an option, so are assassins.

Try this trap.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Yellow-Jacket-Bottle-Trap/

 

[fluttermoth]

Some kind of trap, or even a jar like I mentioned, would be better than just putting pieces of veggie in. I always find, the second I try and pick the veggie up, the snails feel the movement and let themselves drop off!

Cowgirl's right, don't put them in your pond! I know it seems horrible to kill them, but they are just snails...

 

[Keswick]

I have a friend who has a dwarf puffer fish, and several of our local aquarium club members give her snails as a food source for the puffer (they love to eat snails). It works out being a win for everyone.....

Maybe this is your opportunity to start a new tank with your own puffer?! They are very neat fish.... [emoji2]

Good advice on extraction techniques!




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[julielynn47]

I actually doubt that they would live long enough to wreak havoc in the pond...I figure the bass and perch would make short work of them.

I think puffers are cute but I have always heard that you have to trim their teeth...I don't want a fish that I have trim teeth on. lol

I got a bunch of them out on the zucchini, but you are right, they start dropping off as soon as you touch the zucchini. I got a lot of them though and put the zucchini back in the tank to collect more.

This is awful...I just want my fish to be able to eat!

 

[julielynn47]

Will assassin snails multiply like the ramshorn?