Malaysian Trumpet Snail Requirements

I know that malaysian trumpet snails can burrow in substrates and breed rapidly. However, I want to set up another tank so that I can see what is going on without the distraction of the fish.

1) What size tank would I need for about 3-4 snails.
2) Would I have to get a substrate if there is nothing that can attack them?
3) Will feeding algae wafers be enough?
4) Do I need any type of filtration?
5) How fast will they breed?

 

3-4 would be fine in any amount. They guys are incredible survivors. Pretty much anything to eat and they will reproduce. Too much and you can have thousands

 

These guys will survive with just about anything, but I've bred them for puffer food before. Their hard shells make great food for older puffers!

1) Anything would be fine, although I'd recommend at least a 5 gallon for breeding. I used an old dog food container that held around 8 gallons, and produced snails constantly. Just make sure that if you use anything plastic that it's food-grade plastic. If not, it could leech stuff into your water.

2) Technically, no, but I'd recommend it. It seems to be a comfort thing. A cheap bag of sand or gravel from Lowes would be your best bet.

3) That's a good start, but I'd recommend varying their diet. I fed veggies (pieces of cucumber, iceberg lettuce, zucchini, etc.) and occasionally some algae wafers.

4) I'd definitely recommend it. I used an old HOB on my breeder tank, but a sponge filter would be just fine as well. MTS are hardy, but they're still snails - they're going to be sensitive to poor water quality, just like other inverts.

5) It depends on their diet, the temperature of the tank, and how many you start out with. I started out with 20-30, and within a few months had hundreds. I took out 10 a day to feed my puffers and never ran out, so, in short, fast.

 

Good luck with your MTS!

1) a 1 gallon tank should suffice. If you want larger then that's fine too.
2) you don't NEED substrate, but if you put sand or something else in there, will will love to dig around in it.
3) algae wafers should be fine. Like with any snail, if you notice shell problems you might want to feed a food with more calcium in it.
4) Yep you need a filter. The snails will produce ammonia just like anything else. Alternatively, you can add a bunch of plants or do (very) frequent water changes, but a filter is the easiest way to go.
5) this depends on how much you feed them. The more they eat. The more they breed.

 

These guys will survive with just about anything, but I've bred them for puffer food before. Their hard shells make great food for older puffers!

1) Anything would be fine, although I'd recommend at least a 5 gallon for breeding. I used an old dog food container that held around 8 gallons, and produced snails constantly. Just make sure that if you use anything plastic that it's food-grade plastic. If not, it could leech stuff into your water.

2) Technically, no, but I'd recommend it. It seems to be a comfort thing. A cheap bag of sand or gravel from Lowes would be your best bet.

3) That's a good start, but I'd recommend varying their diet. I fed veggies (pieces of cucumber, iceberg lettuce, zucchini, etc.) and occasionally some algae wafers.

4) I'd definitely recommend it. I used an old HOB on my breeder tank, but a sponge filter would be just fine as well. MTS are hardy, but they're still snails - they're going to be sensitive to poor water quality, just like other inverts.

5) It depends on their diet, the temperature of the tank, and how many you start out with. I started out with 20-30, and within a few months had hundreds. I took out 10 a day to feed my puffers and never ran out, so, in short, fast.

Would tank size affect breeding rates?

Good luck with your MTS!

1) a 1 gallon tank should suffice. If you want larger then that's fine too.
2) you don't NEED substrate, but if you put sand or something else in there, will will love to dig around in it.
3) algae wafers should be fine. Like with any snail, if you notice shell problems you might want to feed a food with more calcium in it.
4) Yep you need a filter. The snails will produce ammonia just like anything else. Alternatively, you can add a bunch of plants or do (very) frequent water changes, but a filter is the easiest way to go.
5) this depends on how much you feed them. The more they eat. The more they breed.

If I were to have java moss and Mts in the same tank would that eliminate the need for filtration? In that case would I only need to do one water change per week?

3-4 would be fine in any amount. They guys are incredible survivors. Pretty much anything to eat and they will reproduce. Too much and you can have thousands

Thanks!!

 

Food will be the primary variable that affects reproduction rates.

I would give them filtration although I don’t think they need it. I tried to kill mine with a triple dose of potassium permagrate. No joy....

 

Food will be the primary variable that affects reproduction rates.

I would give them filtration although I don’t think they need it. I tried to kill mine with a triple dose of potassium permagrate. No joy....

If I don't use a filter how often would I have to change the water?

 

I would test ammonia and let that guide me to know when to change water

 

Requirements: food, water. hahaha

 

I would test ammonia and let that guide me to know when to change water

Do you know of any cheap ammonia kits bc the ones at the store are like 3 dollars a test...