For those who like bladder snails, why should I keep them?

[BlueRaccoon]

So I officially have 'pest' snails. I intentionally did not bleach my new plants because I've had bad luck in the past doing this. Weeks later....I have beautiful, healthy plants, and well, a floating bladder snail. I'm sure it's not the only one. So for those who like them, what are their benefits and what can I do to control the population. I don't want my beautiful aquascape becoming ugly from a massive amount of snails. I also just don't have the heart to kill them....Anyway, please tell me it's possible to maintain a small population, and that they won't eat my plants! Thanks!

 

[Blacksheep1]

Sorry. Can’t tell you that ! Mama said don’t lie ..

they will stabilise after an initial population boom, snails , in my eyes, are beneficial to the over all eco system but if you don’t want snails then just get rid. Start a small outdoor tub and just put the snails in there (as long as they won’t gain access to an outdoor body of water ) if you really don’t want to kill them.

 

[ProudPapa]

. . . and that they won't eat my plants! Thanks!

They are very unlikely to eat healthy plants. They will eat dead leaves.

 

[TClare]

I haven't had bladder snails but I have ramshorns in all but one tank, they help to eat algae and uneaten food, they keep plant leaves nice and clean in my experience and only eat dead or dying leaves..

 

[Diotimoss]

I learned to love them because I can’t get rid of them anyway….that’s more of a coping strategy than a reason but…

 

[Blacksheep1]

I’ve had them in tanks and honestly , I’ve now got about 5 adults in one tank, they got out competed in the other tanks by mts . Not that much of an issue people make them out to be. No different than mts, ramshorn etc .

 

[propel]

I haven't had bladder snails but I have ramshorns in all but one tank, they help to eat algae and uneaten food, they keep plant leaves nice and clean in my experience and only eat dead or dying leaves..

They also eat BGA.

 

[StarGirl]

They get in the crooks and crannys that the bigger snails cant.

 

[HupGupp]

I find ramshorn outcompete them. I suspect they eat their eggs. They kind of end up being the same thing, but I think they're nicer to look at.

 

[TClare]

They also eat BGA

Do they? Im quite sure ramshorn snails don't...

 

[propel]

Do they? Im quite sure ramshorn snails don't...

They do.

here and here

 

[FishDin]

I've had them in 3 tanks and they have never been a problem. If you have a fish that eats them, then problem is solved. However, being eaten will definitely kill them, which you are trying to avoid. The only way that I can see to control them without killing them is to feed your fish very-very lightly and regularly remove as much organic waste as possible.

In my tanks with ramshorn snails, I have to search to find a bladder snail. I assume they are getting out-competed by the RHS. In another tank they where the only snail, they dissapered from the tank once the fish matured, so I assumed the fish were eating them or their eggs. A largen population continued to exist in the filter for years, but never in the tank. Someone was eating them or their eggs. It was either the BN plecos or the Rainbow cichlids. My Peacock Gudgeons (another tank) pick them up and try to eat them, but they have very tiny mouths. If I crush them against the glass (another lethal method), the gudgeons go into a feeding fenzy.

There is one nonlethal approach. Give them their own tank. Cull them from your main tank when you do maintenance and put the culls in the snail tank. It doesn't eliminate them from your main tank, but it gives you a way to control the population without killing them.

 

[BlueRaccoon]

Thanks, everyone! I do have a bristlenose....I wonder if it will take care some of the eggs....Also, I have nerites, so they will help compete, plus I'm about to buy amano shrimp. Thanks for the advice. It will be an experiment. We'll see what happens. That's what fish keeping is....an experiment, lol