Snail Problem

[brire1]

can anyone give me advice on how to get rid of snails please, i have an infesation of snails and it is making my tank look really horrible so i would love to know a quick fix,,,,, thanks

 

[fluttermoth]

Unfortunately there is no real 'quick fix' for snails. There are snail killing solutions on the market, but I wouldn't use them; the dead snails can pollute your water and the chemicals may soak into the silicone of the tank and make it unsuitable if you ever want to keep any inverts (apple snails or shrimp perhaps) in it ever again.

You'll probably never be totally rid of them, but any of these methods should bring the numbers down to a more reasonable level; squash as many as you can during water changes; add some veggies to the tank in the evening and pull it out with snails attached next morning before they dispurse (carrot is very good for this apparently); add some snail eating fish (zebra or yoyo loach) if your tank has the room and suitable inhabitants or assassin snails, which breed less than the 'pest' snails.

You must also reduce the amount you're feeding your fish; massive population explosions in snails happen only because there is an excess of food for them to feed on.

 

[This Old Spouse]

+1
I've also found a weighted slice of cucumber attracts them like bees to honey.

Overfeeding is the cause, guaranteed. Try feeding your fish ... LESS ... every other day and see the population drop. Picture each fish's stomach as about the size of their eye. They really don't need a lot of food.

I have assassin snails, and they only do a so-so job of controlling the pond and ramshead snails. Feeding less will help a LOT.