Aro

I'm thinking about breeding snails for some dwarf puffers
but i don't no anything about snails.
Any thing i need to know? or do i just drop some snail in my 1 gallon tank with some algae?

sirdarksol

Welcome to Fishlore!
The big secret to breeding snails is to not want them to breed.

Honestly, though, just get some common pond snails (your local pet store will probably just give you some, since they're a pain to most people), drop 'em in a tank, add some food periodically, and they'll breed.

Aro

Ok thanks. I'll do that once i get my new tank and fish.

pepetj

That's absolutely true! ROFL big time!

I guess it depends which type of snails you're looking for. Most snails will reproduce without our intervention.

I breed Apple Snails as snack for my big guys (Oscars & Severums), if you raise them in soft water, their shell will crush easier -that's why I let them hatch at my Angelfish tank only- then I just drop some at the Oscars' tank and they go for their snack at will.

For smaller fish, I consider Ramshorn Snails to be a good choice -easier to brake get rid of the shell than Trumpet Snails and have more "meat". In a small tank or container keep a sponge filter (babies somehow find the way to go up the HOB's intake tubing and end up clogging the impeller).

Pepe
Santo Domingo

SkyCrystal

Hey Aro! I'm glad you finally joined Fishlore! I understand you already have a filter, and don't want to buy a sponge filter? Or do you want to spend a little more money? Oh, everyone, I'm related to Aro, but I'm not going to say how or he'll kill me. He doesn't have a cap on the end of his filter, so it's a definite danger. He doesn't have the tank set up yet.

Aro

Thanks for the advice pepetj. I'll check out those snails.

Hey Sky.

pinkfloydpuffer

Haha, I know how you two are related
I'm breeding Ramshorn snails for my puffers right now. I just put them in a bowl and add food every few days.

Aro

I see you have GSP. There my favorite. I had one and he was dead after a week.

sirdarksol

For dwarf puffers, you're going to want smaller snails (and not trumpet snails. As Pepe said, their shells are hard). I suggested pond snails specifically because they breed so readily.

When you're feeding, make sure that at least half of the feedings are snails that are small enough that the puffer needs to bite through the shell (not a problem for that hard little beak). If the snail is large enough, the puffer is smart enough to go for the soft parts directly. Puffers are like rodents, they need to chew on something hard to keep their beak ground down.

coyoteoverdose

I have LOTS of pond snails, ramshorn i have a few and alot of trumpet snails i hate them trumpet snails if anyonw wants them and live near me im in lyons georgia you can have them

pinkfloydpuffer

Yes, I love them! I heard that you lost yours. It's sad. But don't be averted from keeping them any more. I'd be glad to help you with any questions about puffers.

Sam Livingston

The snails are a-sexual and also mate with each other. You will have no problem breeding them just be sure to keep them in their own breeding tank or else fatties might eat their eggs <cough><cough> Yea I'm talking about you dojo loaches!

Also have a question for you puffer fans out there. I've had dwarf and green spotted puffers before. The two I have now are referred to as South American Puffers, but I don't see that name thrown out very often and they are common puffers, so what is another common name for them that I might recognize?

pinkfloydpuffer

Do you have a pic of them?

welshalien

This is oh so true! I've had a sudden unexplainable outbreak of MTS in one of my tanks. The reason I say "unexplainable" is because I haven't added ANY plants in months..but two days ago, I turned on the lights and holy teeny tiny snail infestation, Batman! Unless the eggs came in on the bamboo shrimps....is that even possible?

Kelly

Sam Livingston

My camera not working, was one of first digital models so it's time has run up. They don't look all that different from dwarf puffers except their size of course.

pinkfloydpuffer

They are also known as Brazilian puffers. Is that it? Are they kind of striped?

Aro

Sam check out this link http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/puf-asel.htm

Sam Livingston

Yup Brazilian is definitely them, thanks guys! Also bought a green spotted puffer today, really wasn't planning on it and shouldn't have but can't help myself. They are without a doubt my favorite fish and the pet stores haven't had them for over a year so just had to get one.