Esha Gastropex

[sto0ka]

Hi,

Pond snails, loads of them.
Complete tank tear down month ago, dumped substrate and used new one. Boiled driftwood, soaked all plants I was reusing in bleach.

They are back...

Tried removing them by hand, tried traps. Nothing is helping.

Now I found product called Esha Gastropex- it is anti snails chemical and apparently it's fish and plants safe.
I'm willing to go that path at this stage but my concern is how to remove that chemical out of the tank once pond snails are dead?

I do have rabbit snails, piano snails, zebra racers and black helmets that I intend to keep.
I have nice hospital tank that would be home for them while tank is treated, but I'm kind of sure my driftwood and substrate (jbl proscape volcano mineral, stratum and help advanced soil) will soak up some of chemical.

How can I be sure it's completely gone from tank before returning my snails to the tank?

Anyone had similar situation, or any experience with gastropex or any anti snail chemicals?

Thank you

 

[MrBryan723]

A few good water changes and active carbon in the filter should do the trick. Yeah getting rid of pest snails is brutal. Good luck and i hope it works.

 

[sto0ka]

Yeah, I didn't mind them before. They were never multiplying in this number before I got "my snails" and started throwing few algae wafers to tank since it's kind of algae free tank.

I emailed Esha now, will see if they say anything about how long it lasts in tank and will driftwood and other things in tank soak it up and release over time.

And since my betta refuses any live food, I'm starting to think that this guys are eating Minnows eggs.
Before I thought he is munching on them...

 

[SavTheArtist]

Yeah, I didn't mind them before. They were never multiplying in this number before I got "my snails" and started throwing few algae wafers to tank since it's kind of algae free tank.

I emailed Esha now, will see if they say anything about how long it lasts in tank and will driftwood and other things in tank soak it up and release over time.

And since my betta refuses any live food, I'm starting to think that this guys are eating Minnows eggs.
Before I thought he is munching on them...

You could try a pack of assassin snails? They usually make quick work of clearing out pest snails!

 

[sto0ka]

Nah, not going that way

Anyway ordered Gastropex and got official statement from esha:

Hello,
You are correct in moving the snails you want to keep, such as your rabbit snails and Nerite snails to another tank as Gastropex will effectively kill all snails. Often it's recommended to use Gastropex again after two weeks, because the eggs of the snails will have hatched and Gastropex doesn't kill the eggs.So if you could, keep the snails you want to keep in the seperate aquarium for at least two weeks.

Wait 5 days after day 3 of treatment with Gastropex and do a 50% water change and start filtering again using active carbon. This will remove Gastropex from the tank and make it safe for your snails that you wish to keep.

Before treating your aquarium with Gastropex try and remove snails you want to get rid of by hand, as much as feasibly possible, so you don't end up with too much waste in your aquarium.

Hope this answers your questing to satisfaction.
If there's anything else we can help you with please let us know.

Kind regards,

eSHa team.


So in 3 weeks time I should have pest free tank and be ready for moving back my snails to tank.

I'll move back firstly Piano Snails, since they had 4 babies and I have 6 of them now. So I'll try with babies fist and see if any Gastropex residue is left in the tank.

 

[sto0ka]

Got Gastropex in the mail today.... Covid delayed shipping

In the meantime... I got 3 skunk corys..
Now should I remove corys as well as snails I intend to keep.

I know scaleless fish are not really into any medication.

I was looking around and it's a hit and miss with copper based things and corys. Some have positive experience, some dead fish.

Anyone knows if they should be removed from tank ?