Getting rid of snails in shrimp tank

So I left for three days, put a little extra food (you don’t know how much I regret this, it wasn’t even that much extra..but I guess enough to cause an issue) and I get home to snails..not an insane amount. But I have snails nonetheless. I really don’t want them.

im transferring tanks this week but everything from tank A is going to tank B. I have shrimp in my tank too, I want to note that.

Not sure if this makes zero sense, but is it possible to dose the tank with snail killing liquid (after I remove the shrimp of course) and then dose the treated water to remove any copper it has from the treatment? I think it’s the copper in it that will kill the shrimp.

If that doesn’t make sense..what are my options. I’ve been removing them as I see them. They’re pretty tiny snails because they just hatched, but I know I haven’t gotten all of them yet by a long shot. And I feel like I won’t be able to get all of them..

Any tips will be veryyyyyyy appreciated! ♥️

 

I'm afraid I don't understand all of the above. It sounds like you're moving the shrimp to a different tank. Does that one already have snails also, or are the snails just in the one with the shrimp in it now?

By the way, the shrimp and guppy tank on my desk at work frequently goes 4 days without food with no apparent ill effects.

 

What types of snails? Snails and shrimp are fine together. But if you must get rid of them. Try one of the planeria meds. They tend to kill snails too.

 

If the new tank is already set up ( and matured well ) move the shrimp over and lower the water line to deal with the snails either by chemical or manually.

If it isn’t, then don’t move the shrimp and set it up with new substrate and plants if you 100% want no snails moving over. you may kill your shrimp if you’re putting them in a brand new tank.

do you have sand by any chance ?

 

I'm afraid I don't understand all of the above. It sounds like you're moving the shrimp to a different tank. Does that one already have snails also, or are the snails just in the one with the shrimp in it now?

By the way, the shrimp and guppy tank on my desk at work frequently goes 4 days without food with no apparent ill effects.

What types of snails? Snails and shrimp are fine together. But if you must get rid of them. Try one of the planeria meds. They tend to kill snails too.

If the new tank is already set up ( and matured well ) move the shrimp over and lower the water line to deal with the snails either by chemical or manually.

If it isn’t, then don’t move the shrimp and set it up with new substrate and plants if you 100% want no snails moving over. you may kill your shrimp if you’re putting them in a brand new tank.

do you have sand by any chance ?

Thank you all for your replies. Going to address all at once to make it easier for everyone, hopefully. Sorry my post earlier wasn’t as clear as it could’ve been - it was the morning, that’s my excuse.

I have a 10 gallon tank and I’m upgrading to 20 gallon and getting rid of the 10 (I have a smaller tank I use already for quarantine etc.) I currently use Fluval Stratum (which I don’t love tbh), I would actually like to be using Eco complete, and was thinking of either buying that and eating the cost of the fluval I have rn, orr move the fluval I have over and buy more to top it off? Not sure..have to see the cost comparison. I would like to avoid sand though..it’s just so high maintenance for my preference. Don’t hate me! Lol

So this was my plan - the new tank arrives Thursday actually in the mail. So I was going to move over as much of the water I could from current tank (with no visible snails, never had adults, plants came with eggs and I keep assassinating them as I see them..and I’m looking hard because I’m OCD, but I know there’s more still) to the new tank. Then rinse all plants and hard scape. So I know the eggs are most likely only on the floaters because that’s what they came on. So I removed all floaters except a few baby floaters….which I don’t think have anything. I’m thinking since I keep removing visible snails, none are adult size, there should be barely eggs if any in the tank anymore since I removed the culprit and no adults have laid more. Once I move water over to new tank, fill it with remaining water necessary (treated of course) and then I was going to use my old filter on the new tank so the cycle doesn’t get lost and at the same time put the new filter on so it can start seeding (both HOB aqua clear). The thought was to get as much water as possible without getting debris in order to not shock shrimpies, they’re my babies! Let me know if you think that’s a good idea. And I hope I explained it well, if not ask away! Just know I’ll do what’s best for the animals, not dead set in my ways, so if you have suggestions - bring it on. My ears are open!

I regret giving them food over the weekend because I only found out AFTER that fish and shrimp would have been fine. I was just trying to be nice to the babies! Turns out I was too nice. Lol.

They are pond snails. Confirmed by fish shop who had originally claimed they had no snails! -_- My luck, and stupidity for not quarantining. Lesson learned for future!

Will planeria hurt fish/shrimp/plants? Assuming because you mentioned it that it won’t but I have to ask.

And lastly, (sorry for how long my reply got) I would prefer not to buy new plants - I don’t think I have to because what I mentioned above about eggs only coming from the floaters and I don’t have any adults because this is all within last 2-3 days. I removed the floaters except a few babies and can’t I just rinse or treat everything else when I’m moving it over? Or could the other stuff have eggs on it too even..?
Anyways hope I cleared things up! And thanks again for everyone helping.

 

I don't want to be too discouraging, but with the workflow you described I would be very surprised if you don't still wind up with snails in the new tank. I certainly wouldn't assume that any snail eggs would only be on the floating plants. Instead of just rinsing the plants you might consider one of the methods described at Dipping Plants to Eliminate Snails for getting rid of them on plants.

Next, I (and others) have struggled with shrimp in new tanks, so I'm concerned about you transferring the shrimp to the 20 gallon tank right away. Shrimp need biofilm to graze on, and that takes time to develop. I assumed that live plants would provide enough, but I was wrong.

 

I don't want to be too discouraging, but with the workflow you described I would be very surprised if you don't still wind up with snails in the new tank. I certainly wouldn't assume that any snail eggs would only be on the floating plants. Instead of just rinsing the plants you might consider one of the methods described at Dipping Plants to Eliminate Snails for getting rid of them on plants.

Next, I (and others) have struggled with shrimp in new tanks, so I'm concerned about you transferring the shrimp to the 20 gallon tank right away. Shrimp need biofilm to graze on, and that takes time to develop. I assumed that live plants would provide enough, but I was wrong.

Okay what about this - new tank, new substrate, new filter, bleach dip plants and hard scape (all my plants are hardy, not sure about red root floaters, but if they die, they die) - add bacteria starter - let tank cycle with plants etc in it.

Once tank is cycled transfer my fish and shrimp. (Just the animals nothing else - hopefully)

 

Alum dip is much easier on plants than bleach IMO. 1G water 3 TBLS Alum for 24 hours, never had a snail or a dead plant. You can see the white dead eggs on the leaves too.

If you are going to do a fishless cycle you will need some ammonia along with the bacteria starter.

 

Alum dip is much easier on plants than bleach IMO. 1G water 3 TBLS Alum for 24 hours, never had a snail or a dead plant. You can see the white dead eggs on the leaves too.

If you are going to do a fishless cycle you will need some ammonia along with the bacteria starter.

How do I provide the tank with ammonia? I read about alum, it’ll do the job on the eggs too you think? I really don’t want to do this entire change just to have snail problems still >_<

 

How do I provide the tank with ammonia? I read about alum, it’ll do the job on the eggs too you think? I really don’t want to do this entire change just to have snail problems still >_<

Click and Read the blue letters (link) in my last post. It will explain a fishless cycle. Dr Tims ammonia is used a lot. So is regular hardware store ammonia. No additives or surfactants. That means soap. Only buy something that says ammonia as an ingredient.

A fishless cycle takes around a month plus to complete. A lot of fish stores dont tell you this sadly.

 

Click and Read the blue letters (link) in my last post. It will explain a fishless cycle. Dr Tims ammonia is used a lot. So is regular hardware store ammonia. No additives or surfactants. That means soap. Only buy something that says ammonia as an ingredient.

A fishless cycle takes around a month plus to complete. A lot of fish stores dont tell you this sadly.

Isn’t a cycle with bacteria starter like seachem stability enough without ammonia? I know that a normal cycle takes a month but I did bacteria starter this last time and it was cycled in less than a week. I have a test kit and I was testing water all the time to make sure of everything (still test every few days to make sure all is good).

 

Sorry to say this. I’ll be the downer in the group it’s been said several times already , but …

the shrimp will not thrive in a newly cycled tank. You’re looking at more like 3 plus months.

I get that you’re cycling , which is amazing by the way ! Do it for all fish and you’d be good to go , but shrimp NEED that older tank biofilm to grow so they can feed off it. There’s no quick fix , it just takes time.

but hey ! If you’re going for new substrate do that and get it set up then just try and be patient ! For as long as you can

I also agree with the above post that if you’re going to transfer anything across from the old tank to new you’re likely going to transfer snails too. I like snails in a shrimp tank in all honesty, but I prefer nerite snails. Just my preference . I also have a couple of Malaysian trumpet snails which haven’t actually gone crazy and reproduced tonnes like they did in my other fish tanks, it’s definately due to feeding schedules.

 

Isn’t a cycle with bacteria starter like seachem stability enough without ammonia? I know that a normal cycle takes a month but I did bacteria starter this last time and it was cycled in less than a week. I have a test kit and I was testing water all the time to make sure of everything (still test every few days to make sure all is good).

No Stability alone will not cycle a tank and not in a week for sure. I think you got lucky and didnt have spikes due to a low bioload or something. Did you add media to the filter from an established tank the first time?

 

Sorry to say this. I’ll be the downer in the group it’s been said several times already , but …

the shrimp will not thrive in a newly cycled tank. You’re looking at more like 3 plus months.

I get that you’re cycling , which is amazing by the way ! Do it for all fish and you’d be good to go , but shrimp NEED that older tank biofilm to grow so they can feed off it. There’s no quick fix , it just takes time.

but hey ! If you’re going for new substrate do that and get it set up then just try and be patient ! For as long as you can

I also agree with the above post that if you’re going to transfer anything across from the old tank to new you’re likely going to transfer snails too. I like snails in a shrimp tank in all honesty, but I prefer nerite snails. Just my preference . I also have a couple of Malaysian trumpet snails which haven’t actually gone crazy and reproduced tonnes like they did in my other fish tanks, it’s definately due to feeding schedules.

Is there no way for me to treat the plants successfully before putting them in? I was researching the Alum, it looks promising. But I also want to be sure. I’m thinking about quarantining plants before putting them in even after the alum, and waiting two weeks to see if I see more snails.. thoughts on that?

I had the shrimp in this tank after a week of cycling and they’ve been happy for a while now. Maybe I was lucky..can I not supplement them with pellets?

No Stability alone will not cycle a tank and not in a week for sure. I think you got lucky and didnt have spikes due to a low bioload or something. Did you add media to the filter from an established tank the first time?

I did not add media from an established tank. Maybe I did get lucky. I have seachem prime here in case there’s a spike. I’m crazy and check daily anyways..

You’re probably shaking your head disagreeing with me. If I was not under a deadline for this then I would take my time. But I have a short window to make this all happen. Like 2 weeks.

 

Is there no way for me to treat the plants successfully before putting them in? I was researching the Alum, it looks promising. But I also want to be sure. I’m thinking about quarantining plants before putting them in even after the alum, and waiting two weeks to see if I see more snails.. thoughts on that?

Alum has worked for me every time. It just takes longer. After the soak I look at the leaves and look for eggs. The eggs will be milky and white and easy to see. Underside of leaves are a favorite place to lay. If you are meticulous you should fine them all. They will already be dead if they are white though. The jelly will be milky too.

I did not add media from an established tank. Maybe I did get lucky. I have seachem prime here in case there’s a spike. I’m crazy and check daily anyways..

You’re probably shaking your head disagreeing with me. If I was not under a deadline for this then I would take my time. But I have a short window to make this all happen. Like 2 weeks.

If you are in a time frame then your established filter and water should get you by. You will have to feed the shrimp though possibly. I would soak the plants right away, like before the tank comes, so in 2 weeks they will have some film on them. It is better though to have a well established tank.

 

Alum has worked for me every time. It just takes longer. After the soak I look at the leaves and look for eggs. The eggs will be milky and white and easy to see. Underside of leaves are a favorite place to lay. If you are meticulous you should fine them all. They will already be dead if they are white though. The jelly will be milky too.


If you are in a time frame then your established filter and water should get you by. You will have to feed the shrimp though possibly. I would soak the plants right away, like before the tank comes, so in 2 weeks they will have some film on them. It is better though to have a well established tank.

Sooo after thinking about it, I’m considering seeding a sponge filter in the tank I have right now. Use my quarantine tank with seeded sponge filter and water for shrimp, let them stay there for a bit longer while tank matures. Could give the tank about a month before the shrimp go in.

I don’t want to hurt them. So maybe that’s the way to go.

side note: will boiling my hard scape kill eggs/snails?

 

side note: will boiling my hard scape kill eggs/snails?

It should. You could just dip stones in bleach water and rinse well. You dont want to use it on wood though.