Snails And Shrimp

[Seal36]

Are snails good at cleaning up mess and uneaten food.

If they are what small snails are good at cleaning and slow at breeding.


Shrimp:
What do shrimp do in the tank. Do they serve any purpose to the fish tank.

Thanks from Tom

 

[Ch4rlie]

Snails are good for helping with algae and leftover foods, unfortunately most snails are prolific breeders!
 
However, Nerite snails sound like the best bet for you, their eggs are usually unable to grow in freshwater, they need brackish waters really.
 
MTS (Malaysian Trumpet Snails) are good for algae eating and also for going into your substrate to sort of aerate it  but they breed very easily!
 
Common/pond/pest snails are usually in your tank via hitchhiking on live plants and generally a lot of people do not like them as they are very prolific breeders but do good on algae growths but some of these snails may munch on your live plants.
 
I have Assassin Snails, slow breeders and they have the added benefit of eating other snails, namely common snails, they did not get the name Assassin snails for nothing!
I use these Assassin snails to control the population of common snails. I don't mind snails at all and kinda like them as long as they don't munch on my plants!
 
Shrimps also are a useful clean up crew for algae and eating some leftover foods.
Red Cherry Shrimps are pretty much the hardiest and cheapest shrimps you can get.
I have RCS as well, I enjoy watching them going about their business in the tank.
 
Here is a link for the Shrimps and other Invertebrates forum threads, useful for additional information...
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/forum/30-shrimps-other-invertebrates/

 

[baker360360]

+1 above.


Nerites are absolutely amazing at eating algae and don't breed I've got 7 in my tank.
Amano shrimp are great workers and focas more on left over food and fish poo. Also don't breed in freshwater.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I wouldn't say assassins are slow breeders... they just grow really really slowly and you need both sexes for them to breed.  I started with 5 or 6 and I've had at least 100.  Also... even if you end up with that many... you rarely ever see them... looks more like about 20.   BUT.... they are great to cash in at the LFS or trade for other things.   That said... I loooooove my assassin snails and don't for a moment fret over how many there are and they are not demanding on my tank.

 

[DerpPH]

+1 above.


Nerites are absolutely amazing at eating algae and don't breed I've got 7 in my tank.
Amano shrimp are great workers and focas more on left over food and fish poo. Also don't breed in freshwater.

 
Amano Shrimps dont eat fish poo. THey eat algae most of the time/
 
 
Amano shrimps are good if you dont want them to breed.
 
But red cherry shrimp have many varieties of colors, like the fire shrimp, yellow shrimp, snowball shrimp and many more.
 
People just buy shrimp for leisure not cleaning (except for amanos)
 
The most expensive shrimp are the bee shrimps or crystal red/black shrimp
 
Snails are unpleasant to look at in large numbers but some like the ramshorn and nerites are used for decortaion purposes too

 

[Seal36]

Which snails are better for cleaning the nerites or the assassin and also how big do they grow as I only want small snails no more that a few cm.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Reckon both types eat about the same. Maybe Nerite a bit more but to be honest does not make much difference.

Nerites grow bigger as well as more varieties available from most LFS, some stay small other grow pretty big.

IMO I like assassins as more interesting while Nerites are more pleasing to look at.

Personal choice really!

 

[Seal36]

Roughly how big do they grow as I don't want huge snails in my tanks thanks

 

[Ch4rlie]

Assassins grow to about half inch to three quarter inch in general.

Nerites, well depends on which type you want really, Horned Nerites tend to stay fairly small, around up to half inch size. Tracked or Zebra Nerites grown up to inch and half, sometimes more, that's just based on what I have seen in LFS really.

It can depend on your water parameters and tank set ups. Hard or soft waters can make a difference as well as this is fairly important on their shell strength and growth.

 

[Seal36]

Thanks for the info my water is hard and my parameters are
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0
General hardness 8d
Carbonate 6d
Ph 7.4
Chlorine 0

Also what type fish are best suited to those conditions. The temperature stays at 26 but can be changed and I don't have a fast flow but don't have a slow one either from Tom

 

[Ch4rlie]

Well, that's a question and a half!

Why don't you go to your LFS and have a look at the varieties they have in store. Write down the names of the fish you like the look of and post the list of fish you like here or better yet post a new thread (that would be better as you may get more responses about varieties if species suitable)

Also at the same time, check out the different snails and shrimps and see if you like any then post on this thread about that and see what responses you get.

Have fun! This is the fun part

 

[Seal36]

How much are assassin snails normally as just popped into a fish shop not my local one and the assassins were £5 each is that about right from Tom

 

[Ch4rlie]

How much are assassin snails normally as just popped into a fish shop not my local one and the assassins were £5 each is that about right from Tom

 
Sounds about right from P@H and Maidenhead Aquatics are similar, about £4.50 if remember right.
 
Online buying is cheaper but I cannot recommend any companies as I've never used them personally but quite a few folks have and usually are ok.
 
Where are you based?
 
I can spare a couple of young Assassin Snails if you are nearby enough in Surrey to pick up, free.

 

[Seal36]

Yeah I went to p@h and that's where they were £5 an I have a maidenhead aquatics which is my lfs and I'm in Hertfordshire so too far for me to travel but I might order some online and see what the online comapnies are like

 

[Seal36]

What about Malaysian trumpet snails how big do they grow and do they eat algae and clean up from Tom