haedra

Good morning!

Thought I'd post this in the snail section, even though my snails aren't exactly my pets.

So around February, I picked up a hornwort, and of course as seems the norm ended up with some snails normally classified as "pests."

Back then I would only find maybe one or two at a time, which I ended up removing. I found both of the typical pest types: pond snails, and the tiny ramshorns. After doing a bit of reading, I got the impression that whether these snails were pests or not was really up to the individual; and that as long as I wasn't overfeeding my tank that the population wouldn't get out of control, so I started to leave the few I found alone. I kinda found they added an interesting dimension to the tank at the time.

In that time frame, I managed to kill my hornwort, or at the least make it unhealthy enough to shed all over the tank; so I removed it. Since then, and after a bunch of gravel cleanings, there is no more plant material to be found. I also feed the tank what I believe to be pretty lightly. So right now, I feel there is little for these tiny snails to eat, aside from a few random crumbs of cory food and some green algae that is growing in my tank, but mostly under control (the diatoms are gone, yay!).

However, since leaving the couple ramshorns in there that I found maybe a month ago, I now normally see about 20 or so on the glass when I turn on the light in the morning.

Given all this information, my questions are:

• Since my tank is only lightly fed, and there is no rotting or dying plant material to be found (unless you count normal algal growth), would this population of snails likely stablize at a manageable number?

• Given that this population stays small; and the snails are so tiny, do they have any appreciable effect on the bioload of the tank?

• What is your opinion on a small population of these types of snails; in what they might add or detract from a tank?

Thank you all for any advice/ opinions you can offer! While I could start removing them again if it is necessary, I can just as easily leave them alone if I can control the population well enough by keeping nutrient sources low.

*For the record, there are no pond snails now; only ramshorns. I haven't seen any pond snails since the last I removed months ago.

*edited to add*

I thought I'd add that I was told I could squish some against the glass, and the cories would clean up the remains... but given they don't even notice them at all now, I'm wondering if I would just end up with a bunch of snail gut spots on my tank?? I don't want to do this unless the general consensus is that it is necessary. I do find them a little interesting.. as long as I'm only finding about 20 or so and they aren't affecting my bioload.

TFA101

IMO, snails add a more natural look to the tank and a more of a traditional aquarium look. I think that no aquarium is complete at least with some snails.

Snails really don't have much of a beneficial bioload, but in big numbers, can really add to it.

Snail populations will remain stable so long as you don't overfeed and routinely remove dead or dying plants. Or if you get a loach.

Squashing snails creates no more than a rise in ammonia as they rot. Cories aren't really a big fan of snails as loaches are, so I don't think they will be eating the meaty remains.

haedra

Thanks for the reply!

Do you think then since I only see about 20 or so at a time (given that of course there will be others I don't see) that the population "might" be low enough to not be adding anything to the bioload? Again, all they could be eating is a small amount of green algae that seems to have congregated mostly on my heater; and maybe some crumbs from the corys, but they don't leave much behind. The hornwort is long gone, and I gravel vacuumed like a madwoman when it made the mess, so there are no pieces of it remaining in my tank.

Unfortunately a loach is not an option, as my tank is only 10 gallons.

coffeebean

i like snails, even 'pest' snails. it seems natural for me. i dont think you have much to worry about. if you think 20 is to much then remove half i like ramshorns

haedra

Yes, visually they don't really bother me. Again, I just feel they make the whole thing look more "natural." They are welcome to munch on the little green algae that's in there; as long as they don't add much to my capacity (it's only 10 gallon). They're so teeny tiny my guess was that it would take alot of them to really start making an impact on the bioload, but I wasn't sure.

MrEMeat

At first I didn't mind the snails in my planted tank. Then the population seemed to explode and I tried reducing the amount I was feeding the fish to reduce the snail population. The snails just started eating my plants. I'm doing my best to get rid of them now but they just keep coming back. I imagine with no plants, snails would not be as much of a problem.

pinkfloydpuffer

I like having snails in my tank... the more the better! But maybe I have alterior motives here...
But really, they keep the tanks completely algae free and are fun to watch, so I say keep 'em!

haedra

ulterior motives....hmmm I wonder what that could possibly be??

Amanda

I have bladder snails & MTS in all of my tanks. I like them, they add a little something to the tank.

rainman

IMO the bladder snail (crushed of course) is a nice addition to a fishes diet. Excelent scource of protein, and calcium.

Amanda

Yeah...don't have the stomach for that.

rainman

Yes, most everyone thinks s are friends not food, but PFP would agree with me.

pinkfloydpuffer

Hehe, I most certainly would. Although it does kinda freak me out when the snails bleed............

MaddieLynn

I think pest snails are lubberly... or at least Wilhelm does...

pinkfloydpuffer

rainman

Yes it's a little morbid... But all my snails get the royal treatment (until they start taking over your tank) than "genocide" must be committed.

pinkfloydpuffer

For some reason I didn't expect snails to have blood like that.... maybe I thought they were just made of jelly? lol. My snails seem like happy campers, until the puffs get hungry....

rainman

It's still amazing to me how something so innocent looking, like the GSP, can become such a veracious killer. (I swear the little monster had a smile on his face the entire time while feeding on the snails.)

pinkfloydpuffer

Puffs are charming little devils! Look so sweet and innocent... then BAM! Everyone's in his tummy! Hahahaha.
And they always have smiles on their faces... it's to disguise the maniacal murderous thoughts going through their heads...
Oh man I love them

fishchick

I look at the MTS as pests , not a pet ! I must have pulled 11 out last night , they have overloaded my tank , 75 gall for over a yr , have began to be a problem! As soon as i get my nitrate under control i will be getting a loach ! dont know which kind though

TFA101

^^ yo-yo's IMO are the best for a tank your size

prairielilly

One of the main reasons I have stayed with silk plants is that no matter how long I keep fish, no matter how many times I give myself a talking to, I am still completely horribly creeped out by snails (they're like garden slugs to me). And shrimp. Eeeerrrrgggg. If it were my tank, they'd be gone. Those and spiders are among the few things that are icky to me. We all have our things I guess. Sorry

TFA101

^^ Spiders are my problem too!

I will freak out at the smallest thing on my bedroom ceiling and have a 2 hour war trying to kill the thing.

prairielilly

1. Move into a place that was previously vacant during the summer for 6 months.
2. Buy aerosol spider-killers and a cordless hand vacuum.
3. Watch the cat - they're good at finding these things...after you see enough of them, they won't bother you anymore. Much. It's amazing what you can force yourself to get 'used' to...

I suppose someday I 'should' go planted - they look so good! just the thought of those icky snails being in the tank at the same time as my hand --!

haedra

Prairie, you should have seen the spider that dropped in my 2.5 gallon when it was still empty. I didn't discover it until about a week later probably; I swear it looked like it had swelled.

prairielilly

I remember that thread ---! uuuggghhh

TFA101

YOU TOO HAEDRA??

I had a HUGE spider fall into my 20 gallon. My old blackskirts took care of him though

haedra

I know, right?? I couldn't decide at the time what was the worse fate for the spider... drowning, or being "toyed" with by Devo (if it had fallen into Devo's tank). Devo would surely have torn each leg off, one by one. It wasn't huge, but it was way bigger than his food.

It took me at least a week before I got the courage to remove that thing.