Snails

[markandhisfish]

having recently got so excited about getting and setting up my new big tank a copule of months ago i have decided im not happy with the job ive done with it so in the new year when work picks up again im gonna re-do it and this time im gonna go to town. the gravel is going to be replaced with sand and instead of the resin mangrove roots i have im gonna get some seriously big twisty bits of redmoor root wood. have read in other threads that snails can be usefull helping to keep sand cleaner by eating fish waste etc. which snails should i be looking at. this is what i want from my snails

1 must look good
2 would be useful if they helped cleaning to some degree
3 and most important not breed and breed and breeed to the point im over-run with the damn things!!

dont want much i know

can anybody reccomend anything good

 

[Jazzzz]

imposible mix

for looks get an apple snail

cleaning duties trumpet snails

 

[markandhisfish]

hmmm thought it might be............................ ok so say i forget about them cleaning up for me ( im quite on top of my tank maintinence anyway ) and just wanted good looking snails that dont multiply like mice would the apples still be a good choice?

 

[Jazzzz]

apples are single sex so 1 will not reproduce also neurites need brackish water so will not reproduce either

would reckomend the trumpets as hey keep the sand looking good by moving it around and also by sinking waste under the sand to allow the bacteria and plants to attack it

they also help prevent gas pockets.

 

[pippoodle]

trouble is trumpets breed like rabbits
i would get some corys and an apple snail to keep your sand clean my corys do an excellent job on the sand over night

 

[markandhisfish]

ok cheers i will look into both. assuming i go with the trumpet snails . what would be an advisable number to add ...... id like enough so you can see they are there but not over-run with the things.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

trouble is trumpets breed like rabbits
i would get some corys and an apple snail to keep your sand clean my corys do an excellent job on the sand over night

yes i agree. i dont really recommend trmpets if ur worried about them breeding. as like said they can breed like mad.

 

[markandhisfish]

ive got 4 corys already and plan to add 6 more so i reckon perhaps just those and an apple snail.

 

[Night61]

i have great luck my mystery snails, like apples they are single sex, howevr they do mount each other often but they are fine. they also do not get as big as apple snails do. these little guys are good with food clean up i have one per tank.

i also have nitrina snails, they are great if you have algae problems, they will clean it up in a week flat, like the mysteries snails they don't breed like crazy.
i have a rule about snails, if you have to pay for them, they are are good snails, if they are free, run for the hills those little suckers own your tank.

anyways these are on the forum thought i would put them here so you can read for yourself.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=179369 nitrite/ nitrina same snail different names
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=196888 mytery snails
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=196535 apple snails.