Snails

[l.michelle]

okay, before anyone says "check the faq", i have, and i got this

Q: Can I keep a betta with an african dwarf frog or a snail?

A: Yes, but once again, only inder the right circumstances. Both snails and frogs are extremely messy. They produce a lot of waste. I wouldn't keep them in anything less than 2.5 gallons. If you do keep them in a 2.5, be prepared to do bi weekly water changes. Apple snails are an iffy choice, because they are SO messy and get quite big. (talk to bettamomma) but I have not heard of anyone having issues with mystery and ramshorn snails. If the betta is nipping at the african dwarf frog at all, the frog needs to be taken out. But once again, it all depends on the fish. My bettas have always been OK with them.

now, i have a question about preferences.

What do you people who have snails prefer? apple snails or mystery? and what is the difference?

I have a 5 Gallon hex tank, and i thought that i might put a snail in for clean up duty.

Good idea? Bad idea?

if good idea, what do i need for the snail? do they require anything to be added, taken away etc?
Should i do more water changes? more frequently?
and lastly, what kind of snail would be reccomended?

if bad idea, is there anything else i could put in with my betta to help with clean up duty?

please let me know from your experiences what would be best.

 

[Joby]

I used apple snails quite regularly in my fry and grow-out tanks until the day I went into the fishroom to find a snail had trapped one of my juvies. Could just see its tail sticking out. I had to force the snail open to release the juvie which thankfully survived.

I thought I moved all the snails but missed one and next day found another victim, this time not so lucky. The snail had held her and she had drowned. I found her perfect but for a line all around the midsection of her body where the shell had clamped down on her.

On reflection I had lost quite a few fry but never found bodies. I now do not put any snails in with bettas

 

[l.michelle]

I haven't got any babies, nor do i plan on having any.

but poor girl!!!!!!

 

[Joby]

This one wasn't a baby, she was nearly adult size I just don't trust them anymore full stop

 

[Taridan]

I have an apple snail in my large tank, and had a mystery snail in my 10 until it mysteriously died on me... If you have any live plants I'd not reccomend either one, and my apple snail pretty much killed my Jave moss stack... I recovered a few strands left out of a clump that had been the size of a golf ball.

 

[l.michelle]

I haven't any real plants.

and my tank is 5 gallons, which would you suggest i put in? apple or mystery?

 

[lisie]

I think apple and mystery snails are the same, just different names.

 

[Loko17]

I had a mystery snail in with my Male CT and he brutalized it so I took it out and put it in my 10 gallon and he's doing ok but personally I would like an Apple snail because to me they are more interesting but its your call seeing theres nothing in your tank it could destroy and all.

 

[wodesorel]

'Mystery snails' are Apple Snails. It gets confusing. About the only kind you'll find for sale (because of a country-wide band) are what are commonly known as Briggs (Pomacia Brigesii). They come in all colors - from gold to ivory to blue to purple and pink. I have two briggs, one cana (now illegal to sell), two Marisas (soon to be illegal to sell) and am planning on hatching out some baby briggs. Both of my bettas are in with snails at the moment, with no problems.

Briggs only get to be about 2 inches long, but require at least 2.5 gallons of their own. Snails need to eat a lot, so they poo a lot. You'll need to vacuum the gravel at least weekly, and if you don't have a filter in the betta tank, I wouldn't recommend getting a snail. Briggs don't eat live plants (the other species do), so you really don't have to change anything. They do like to try and take walks out of the tanks sometimes, especially females trying to lay eggs, so make sure there isn't enough room to get out. (Mine went bungee diving without the bungee twice before I snail-proofed the tank right. She's fine.) I use electrical tape and black pantyhose because I have a black hood, but you can match colors so it won't be so obvious.

Snail are GREAT. I started with bettas and now I'm in LOVE with snails. I don't know why - they're just so cool. They do need their own food in the tank - cleaning up leftovers and eating algea won't cut it. Algea wafers, shrimp pellets, and microwaved veggies are the perfect food, and it's really entertaining to watch them eat. (Or so I think.) I feed mine cucumber I've sliced and kept in the freezer, and collard greens that are nuked in the microwave for 10 seconds and allowed to cool. Fresh veggies are too tough for the snails to eat.

If you handle the snail enough and keep your hand still with holding one in your palm, it'll come out and crawl on you without a second thought. They feel really wierd.

The bad thing is that some betta will pick on them. I've never had it happen, but I know OF it happening. There is really no way of knowing which bettas will be okay and which ones won't. I would say get a larger snail - I've never had a betta in with a juvenile snail, and maybe that's why I've never had a problem.

 

[liz2]

WODESOREL I know it is off topic but I have posted elsewhere and no one has replied do you know anything about african land snails? I have 3 babies at the mo. and think I am doing right by them, cue, lettuce, cuttlefish, water mist but not sure.

 

[wodesorel]

The only thing I know about them is what I've read on this site: http/www.geocities.com/heartland/valley/6210/
(I read through the forum rules and saw no warning about posting others' sites. If I'm breaking a rule, I apologize! Either edit this post or PM me and I'll do it!)

Unfortunately they're very illegal here in the states, so I never really did too much research on them. (Like, a 5,000 dollar fine AND jail-time for owning one.) I would kill to have one, but I doubt I'll be moving out of the country anytime soon.

Good luck!