LOL then it's too late to panic. You don't want to see what happens when you don't control pond snails, my grandpa didn't in one of his tanks and when I got it, at least one fourth of the gravel was snail shells. Though if you like pond snails and control them they can be helpful. Though ramshorns which look like this one are very nice.JI'm said:I found a snail in mine as well, although I haven't seen it in a while. It's very small, maybe 1/4 of an inch. It's been a few weeks and I haven't had an outbreak, just the one. I wouldn't panic unless you see a bunch.
The closest Petland sells them and they are huge suckers. By that I mean the shell is more than an inch long.Terry said:Hi. I'm certainly no snail expert, but I think pond snails are the worst to have in a tank due to them multiplying & taking over. I think those type have a long pointy shell. I have a ramshorn in one of my tanks - it snuck in with some gravel in the bag from a fish purchase about 2 months ago. I left in in, and I'm hoping I don't regret it. I see it every so often. When I was a kid the lfs used to sell ramshorns so at least at one time they weren't considered as pests.
Thanks for the input. Everywhere I go on the internet says that the Ramshorn snail is a fast breeder and will over take a tank quickly. I am thinking about an ornamental snail though.tan.b said:I started with just a snail or 2, now I have loads. too many to count that's for sure! i'd isolate the one you have! make sure it has a lid or it'll escape though!
I have shrimp and they don't touch the snails or snail eggs.........(I wish they did!)sirdarksol said:I was told by a friend that there's some type of freshwater crustacean (shrimp perhaps?) that loved eating juvenile snails. He had a tank that received a snail infestation, and the shrimp just kept eating the little snails. Somehow he ended up with a perfect balance, just enough snails to keep providing food for the shrimp. He only had to perform water changes and other maintenance.
shame I can't rent a puffer for a week!! itd have a feast in my tanks!!!! lol!Luniyn said:Not heard of a shrimp that does that, but a freshwater puffer will. Of course you can't have anything else in the tank with the puffer, but still it will eat all the snails you toss it's way.
Male ramshorn snails dress like females?~Sparkling Diamonds~ said:I read that ramhorns are the bad kind. They're transvestites and can multiply on their own. They also eat live plants. I'd keep it contained for a while and would think long and hard about putting it back into the tank with your betta.
I can sympathise! I kill about 30 every couple of days!! using more live food and less flakes seems to have helped as there is no food spare for the snails! they can't catch the daphnia! snails are pointless critters! they need birth control!Genie said:Thanks-- these snails are going to kill me. I have killed at least 15 today alone!
wish mine did! i've had 5 guppy girls since jan and only 3 fry! they are all ready to pop and have been for months!Genie said:guppies need birth control as well!
and it has worked great!! I don't see any snails right now.. ;D* You can remove the snails in larger groups by tempting them with food. After the lights go off for the night, and the tank is dark, place a saucer on the gravel at the bottom of the tank, place a piece of sinking fish food on the saucer and leave for about 25 minutes. When you come back there will probably be several snails on the saucer and they can be easily removed with the saucer and food. You can similarly use lettuce, spinach, scallions (green onions) or other fresh vegetables to do this, if you have a way to anchor the vegetables in the tank.
good luck!! tanloubie said:I also have had an outbreak of snails - thought I got rid of them and a few weeks later loads appeared! I saw about 8 yesterday so rather than add chemicals I put in some lettuce and this morning there were four on there. I am going to keep trying this route for a while.
So true!! they are invinsible!!poppet said:Just when u think they are gone you find another one.
excellent!! ;D will look for that! they didnt respond to the interpet antisnail, so I won't get too excited until I see them dead. it seems I have tough hardy snails....supersnails? it might sort out my stringy algae stuff too! thanks jim! will report back once i've found some and used it!!JI'm said:Tan,
Accidentally, I found a snail weakness. I had an algae bloom going, so I bought some algaefix by API. It worked great, and cleared up the bloom in less than a day, but when I got home from work today I found my 3 apple snails dead and floating. Sure enough, when I reread the label, it says "unsafe for freshwater crustaceans".
Opps....
