Devon

Hey everyone, I'm having a hard time keeping up with the algae that grows in my betta's 6.6 gallon tank. I have been thinking of getting a couple snails for it to help keep things tidy in there... I don't know anything about snails though, or which ones work best, etc. I am thinking of Apple Snails? Is this a good pick, and if so, how many? The tank gets some sunlight as it sits near a windows (blinds always shut though). Any recommendations? This algae is really getting out of hand!

Butterfly

A mystery snail would work or a couple of Otos.
Algae grows from excess nutrients and excess light. shading from the bright light and making sure not to over feed will go a long way toward getting rid of the algae.
Carol

Devon

Thanks Carol. Any idea how many would be appropriate for a 6.6 gallon? I was thinking 2?

I try to keep it shaded from the light as much as possible, but it's sitting directly in front of a window. :/

Blub

Apple snails? Very funny... They do eat some algae, but nowhere near as much as Nerite snails. Nerites are smaller and eat more algae. You could have 2-3 Nerites. They are outstanding algae eaters, I've got a link somewhere: http://theextrememakeover180.blogspot.com/ Look at the entry for the 6/5/07 and 5/26/07.

Try putting a background on the tank. Not only will your Betta be happier, but it should stop light getting in.

Butterfly

You could put two mystery snailsin that size tank I would think, mine work really hard and are pretty too.
Carol

joy613

Remember snails are natural fertilizing machines. The waste produced can actually cause more algae so you will have to keep the tank vacuumed. I don't know if my idea would work in your case but I would put up a background (if you don't have one up) and some fast growing plants simple plants along with a snail or two. Maybe a little excel when the algae got totally out of hand.

Devon

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think today I'll get a background and some snails. I vacuum his tank at least once a week, if not more, so the waste issue should not be a problem.

Blub

What kind of snails? Apples will produce more waste than nerites , if you get them I'd do 2 water changes and siphons a week.

Allie

I would get 2 otos...they are much cuter than snails.

pepetj

Hi: I haven't tried Nerite Snails although I suspect I have one of them (picked it from the wild), hard working fellow.

I do keep Apple Snails in all my tanks (except in the one they are not wellcomed: the Oscars' Tank). It is true that they keep glass impecably clean -my experience, as well as adding some poo (visible) to the substrate. In a tank that size, twice a week partial water changes with weekly substrate vacumm will likely do the work. They are beautiful funny inverts, but if you have plants, make sure you have a true apple snail that's plant friendly -Mistery Snails, are confused with Apple Snails, and will likely eat your plants than your algae. There's a good link with clear info into distinguishing these too: Apple Snails have a snorkel like feature that Mistery Snails don't. Apple Snails have well defined male/female organs, Mistery Snails do not.
Here is the link: www.applesnail.net

The ones I have have a 90 degree angle in their shell, and are great garden-keepers in planted tanks (trimming is on me though).

Also Ramshorn snails will reproduce easily and provide good live food for your Betta (you crushed them, remove the shell and your Betta will love it), but I think you need some Anacharis for this to happen.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Devon

Update: Got two mystery snails and added them to the tank. The algae is pretty bad because of the sunlight, so I'll leave them to catch up, then probably remove one to do upkeep. They're not showing signs of munching my plants, but I'm keeping a close eye...

Butterfly

All my Mystery Snails are in planted tanks and they don't eat my plants. They do clean them though Glad I've got well behaved mysterys
Carol