Snail Infestation

[CANADIAN1]

well my rather small freshwater fish tank that has 1pleco , some platies and 3 other forget the name of them fish is filled with very small snails... i mean there everywhere (on glass , rocks , floors ) i have absolutely no clue where the hell they came from because i dint buy them and i just started to notice them lately. How do i get rid of them? is the only way pretty much take all the fish out and cleaning the tank completely?

 

[Revision17]

Lots of plants you buy have snail eggs on them. If you don't wash the plants off in bleach or potassium permanganate before putting them in your tank, you can get snails.

If they're not eating your plants, then they're not necessarily a bad thing.

Here's a link to the "Pest Snails" sticky in the invert forum:
http/www.fishforums.net/content/Inverteb...th-pest-snails/

 

[ShoC]

if you want rid of the snails permanently.
DON'T use a copper based chemical as it's very damaging.

best solution is to use something based on Flubenol15
as far as I know they don't sell it no longer
BUT you can buy discus wormer from aqua essentials thats based on it.

it will stop them eating so they will die eventually but you want about 1months course as it dont affect the eggs,
only when they hatch will they be affected.

but be warned that as snails rot they will cause an ammonia spike.

Honestly only way to go is with flubenol

 

[Underwurlde]

Hey ShoC, can I assume then that using Fubenol worked then!

Cheers,

Andy

 

[ShoC]

it sure has mate.
I'm snail free =)

thanks for the recommendation of this type of product.
and so you can add discus wormer as a working product

 

[Underwurlde]

Get in there!

Way to go ShoC!!!!

I think I have already changed my postings on Williams pinned pest snail thead to include Wormer plus.... Just check now.

Andy

 

[Tacklebury]

I added 4 clown loaches, they love the snails.

Took about 3 weeks to completely clear my tank of every snail, I had hundreds too.

It’s an excellent natural way of clearing them.

 

[loachman]

I added 4 clown loaches, they love the snails.

Took about 3 weeks to completely clear my tank of every snail, I had hundreds too.

It’s an excellent natural way of clearing them.

If you have a 100gal+ tank for them. There are many loach species that are better suited for it in the average hobbiest tank.

Botia Striata are very good at it, are peaceful, and stay small (~4inches).

 

[Underwurlde]

... and are OK in groups as low as 3 (I think).

 

[Tacklebury]

I just wish my LFS had stocked these when i brought the Loaches. I have had a look through wiki and totally agree they need space. I was told they would grow to 5-6', not the 12' it says on wiki!! They also can live for 15 yrs! Apparently!

 

[RadaR]

They get massive and live for a long time. Bottom line.
Feeding your fish lightly will dramatically decrease snail population aswell.