Snails - in my betta tanks

[BettaMomma]

So I've been reading eudielynn's posts on her snails and other critters in her betta tanks. Now I am going to WalMart to rescue one on my way home tonight. lol (snail OR frog - whichever looks most in need - probably will be a snail because I have a few holes here and there that are not completely secured where a frog could escape) but this will also probably prompt me to secure all the holes around the filter and such...

So I want to get one for my girly betta tank. First off, my girls eat ALL of their food - nothing ever hits the bottom, and even if it does it gets vacuumed up by little Daisy the bottom scrounger.
Would Daisy be offended by this little bottom invader? She tends to chase off any other girls who wander into her territory- and would he get enough to eat in there? How/what else would I feed him?

How many of you have snails in betta tanks?

 

[Kiarra]

My 6 Mystery Snails live in my Betta fry tanks, because they're wasteful. But I just recently jarred all of one of my spawns (due to mass fighting, mostly, because I couldn't figure out who was tearing up everyone else). The three snails in that tank went away because I don't add snails for a little while after the babies are hatched out, and I have a Crowntail pair working on spawning right now and didn't want the snails to distract the pair. I dumped one snail in each of three male's tanks. The snails were left alone, by even the more aggressive Keegan (who attacks frogs). During their time with the males, the bottom did stay a little bit cleaner, but there was extra snail poop to clean up. Didn't bother me much, though, because it was less messy overall than the uneaten food the boys would leave behind.

You can feed them vegetables like lettuce and cucumber. They will also eat uneaten food, as you know, and can seem to find any number of things down there.

I'd recommend Mystery Snails or Ramshorn Snails (I do so miss the Ramshorn snails I had, but the stores locally don't stock them for reasonable prices anymore). Mystery Snails here were about $1.67 at Petsmart, and I was getting the Ramshorn Snails for $1.06 at Petco. Apple Snails are much larger, and at my local Petco cost about $8.00...yuck!

I like snails, for some strange reason. They're incredibly ugly, they poop a lot, but they're kind of cool to watch. They've grown on me...like a fungus.

 

[BettaMomma]

You should get some rid-snail. That should clear it right up.

So you would not recommend an apple snail for my girly betta tank?
I think that's all that WalMart usually has. And they're always so horribly kept, I figure that one of those poor souls could use a good home.

How do I acclimate them? Float their cups just like a fish?

 

[Kiarra]

Oh, there's nothing wrong with them, per se. The ones I saw were almost as large as my fist. And, granted, I have very small hands, but it was still one MASSIVE snail.

My preference just lies with the other two varieties, that's all. If you want an Apple Snail, more power to you.

Yeah, just float their cups if there's a major temperature difference. If there's a major water quality/PH difference, then go ahead and add a little tank water to the snail's water. They're pretty tough critters, and I do less acclimating for them than I do for fish, because I've never had any problems.

 

[BettaMomma]

Okay!
I'm almost afraid to go to WalMart looking for a snail.
I will probably find something else there that I just do NOT need.
And me, with an empty tank at home right now.



I'm going to name him Gary.

 

[Kiarra]

Should any little guy be so lucky!

 

[BettaMomma]

Although he's not pink, Gary's now living in my girly fish tank. and he's yellow.
He is all coiled up inside his shell right now, but I could swear I just saw him stick his big toe out and feel around to make sure it's safe to come out.

He'll be coming around soon I'm sure.

I will try to post pics, if anyone cares to see pics of a snail. lol
My betta girlies are sure interested in the new "rock" in the tank. I wonder what they'll do when it starts moving!

 

[BettasRFriends]

$1.06 FOR A RAMSHORN? Kiarra you're so lucky. I can't find any ramshorn at any of my lfs Yeah I dont trust walmart for anything except for maybe the lightbulb for fish tanks but that's about it.

 

[BettaMomma]

I don't trust WalMart any farther than I have been able to chase them out of town. Which is why I can't ever leave animals there if I notice they're sick or dying - they just won't take care of them. Uugh.

My snail was about 2$. I am assuming he's an apple snail? He's yellow.

 

[50000_tears]

i had 2 of those from walmart a long time ago...

 

[FishEnthusiast]

I have a yellow apple snail too. He loved the betta tank. I recently moved him to my 55G to feast on all the lovely brown algae that has taken it over. I would love to see pictures. Mine sticks out his "foot" all the time too, I swear he is checking to make sure the coast is clear Gary sure is lucky to have a mom like you. Congratulations

 

[BettaMomma]

Holy Germany!
Gary is a speed demon.
He's cruisin around the tank.
The poor guy, though - every once in a while one of his little feelers comes out and the girls think it's something to eat. lol

 

[BettaMomma]

I have a yellow apple snail too. He loved the betta tank. I recently moved him to my 55G to feast on all the lovely brown algae that has taken it over. I would love to see pictures. Mine sticks out his "foot" all the time too, I swear he is checking to make sure the coast is clear Gary sure is lucky to have a mom like you. Congratulations

Awww... thanks.

I think he's gonna have a great life in that tank. He's got oodles of places to crawl around. Let's just hope the girls don't harrass him too much.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

Here is a good site if you want to identify your apple snail.

http/free.hostultra.com/~applesnails/bridgesii.htm

Another good site is

http/www.applesnail.net.

 

[Kiarra]

They'll probably nip at his feelers a bit. But, if he's quick enough, they shouldn't do too much damage to him. And, eventually, he'll become a non-issue because they will have satisfied their curiosity.

Isn't it amazing how fast they can move? I wouldn't have believed it myself until I got a few and watched them zip around. It's funny to watch snails eat, too. And you can actually handfeed them if you don't think they're getting enough. I was bored and fed one of mine leftover frozen baby brine shrimp using an eye dropper...the snail guzzled it right up.

Congratulations on Gary! I want to see pictures, even if he is a snail.