Snails Snails And More Snails

[menacer]

Ok i have just got back off a ten day holiday in Spain. Before i went i added 3 live plants to my tank. now i have returned i am over stocked with snails. There are 100's of the things laying eggs left right and center! HELP!

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Pond snails? if so you can get some assaasin snails they will munch about 5 a week each or there is meds. Or you can try old tricks place a bit of lettice in there befire bed when u wake sould be full of smails then bit it

 

[L_Plates]

All you can do it is give the tank a very thorough clean trying to get rid of as many snails as you can as you see them and their eggs.

Or possibly purchase a couple of assassin snails to help. I got over run in my 60l not long back and introduced 2 assassin snails and they took care of it. I also removed any i found along the way.

LP

 

[Duz]

Assassin snails are very useful at getting rid of them. I introduced a few plants and then loads of snails just appeared out of nowhere, at 1 point I pulled out around 200 snails in 1 water change. Although meds. can work, it’s a lot harder getting them out. Most meds. will only knock them out (if the meds killed them you could get an ammonia spike) in which case you still have to fish them out. I noticed when the lights are off they start coming out, turn the lights off for a few hours then do a water change and get out as many as you can. Otherwise assassin snails are good, but I have no idea how quickly assassin snails breed. Hope that helps.

 

[Tyse2601]

Assassin snail worked a treat for me, he's on his own and cleaned out a 65 litre tank quite quickly with a little help from my tiger barbs knocking them off the top of the tank!

 

[ATK!!!]

Assassin snails are very useful at getting rid of them. I introduced a few plants and then loads of snails just appeared out of nowhere, at 1 point I pulled out around 200 snails in 1 water change. Although meds. can work, it’s a lot harder getting them out. Most meds. will only knock them out (if the meds killed them you could get an ammonia spike) in which case you still have to fish them out. I noticed when the lights are off they start coming out, turn the lights off for a few hours then do a water change and get out as many as you can. Otherwise assassin snails are good, but I have no idea how quickly assassin snails breed. Hope that helps.

Assasin snails are not hermaphrodites so they don't breed by themselves, when they do breed they only lay a few eggs above the waterline which can be pulled out easily. They don't really breed anyways so this is not a problem.

Good luck getting rid of them!

 

[Duz]

Ok thanks, will have to get a few as I've still got about 50snails hanging around.

 

[menacer]

Are these snails dangerous? will they produce to much ammonia/nitrite? thanks for the replies

 

[StandbySetting]

Snails are fine, and Hermaphrodite or not, a single snail can't reproduce on its own, there still needs to be 2, and they wont cause a problem providing you don't over feed and there isn't any decaying matter in your tank.

 

[Crazy-Fish-Man]

As has been said Assasin snails should help.

I had an issue with a small planted tank and some eggs must have come in on the plants.

I added a pair of assasins and they, along with some manual cleaning, have gone some way to sorting the issues.

Assasins are pretty and interesting to watch to!

 

[Marto666]

On the topic of snails, does anyone know if a Clown Loach or a Bristlenose Plec eat the little blighters?

I’ve just noticed a few nails in my tank. It doesn’t matter how long you spend squishing them till you think you’ve exterminated them all, there are always more appearing a few minutes later!

 

[micko]

Yes, clown loache love snails

 

[Marto666]

Thanks Micko.

Should they be kept in pairs or will one suffice?

Do you know if plecs like to munch on them too? I have a Britlenose and wondered if he may eat them as I may have witness this happened but cant be certain.

 

[StandbySetting]

A Clown Loach will grow to be 10-12 inches, there are more suitable species from the Botia genus which will eat snails, but if I'm honest, there's no need to get rid of them, they eat algae, and wont cause any problems providing you don't over feed or have any decaying matter in the tank.

Assassin Snails will eat some snails but they're only capable of eating 2-3 a week.

 

[micko]

Clown loache need to be in groups of 6 minimum. They grow huge and unless you have a tank that would house them for life I wouldn't bother getting them. They're a big commitment as they can live over 20years if I remember correctly, given the right conditions that is.
I had 7 at one point in a 700ltr, small ones and nothing else. I was advised they would need a bigger tank but they got white spot and all died. They're prone to it apparently. Treated them as best I could too. Have went off them since that.

I'm not sure about the plec eating snails. Never heard of it but that doesn't mean they don't.