Pest Snails in an Invert Tank

I'm trying to figure out an effective way to deal with pest (bladder/pond) snails in an invert tank. I can't put anything in the tank that would kill the snails, due to the other inhabitants, I can't do the standard veggie in a bottle, because I have baby RCS who also really like the veggies and are barely larger than the pond snails. Anyone have anything they have done or thoughts about what may be a good way to remove the pest snails without harming the intended snails and shrimp?

Intentional tank inhabitants are mystery snails, RCS, and nerites.

I also can't really avoid over feeding because I need to feed the little guys who are supposed to be in the tank.

I've been putting in a piece of zucchini, chasing the shrimp off when it's mostly full of snails, and then pulling them out, but if there's something more effective and less time consuming, I'd love to hear it.

 

I think what you're doing now is probably the best choice! Plus any time you walk by the tank scoop out any snails you happen to see floating at the top or hanging out on a plant. Also, if they're compatible with your current stock, get a ghost shrimp or three. I suspect they were responsible for getting my own pest snail populations under control by eating the snail eggs or the newly hatched babies!

 

I'm back and forth on the ghosts, not sure I trust them not to try to make a meal out of the baby RCS since they are so small.

 

Yeah, I agree with Aquaphobia. I was trying to find a more effective way to get rid of my ramshorn snails but the only way that I've been able to get the population under control was to pick them out when they're on the day old zucchinI slice as well as picking them out every time I'd see them.

I also wonder if fish also eat the eggs or baby snails? I haven't seen too many of them lately.

 

I bet they do! My local LPS has put cories in their plants tank to eat the snail eggs. Not sure whether they would eat shrimp either though.

 

That's what I was afraid of... oh well, guess I'll be snail hunting for a while.

 

Could you transfer the fish and inverts you want over to another tank then nuke that tank with snail killing chemical warfare?

 

Honestly, I think that would take more time than snail hunting, lol. I don't know if you've ever kept RCS, but the babies are tiny, and there's not way I could guarantee I'd gotten them all.

Here's a pic for reference. As you can see, they're smaller than a zucchinI seed. They're also smaller than a teenage pond snail.

 

Wowzers. I guess carpet bombing is out then I say keep doing what you're doing!

 

Well, last night's snail trap was a complete failure...

 

I've found that you get a good collection of them if you leave the veggie in there for more than 24 hrs.

 

Yeah, the zucchinI falls apart too much after that long for my liking. It had been working well until last night, just thought it was too cute that there was one snail and a ton of shrimplettes on it.

 

I know what you mean. Though I do cut a thicker slice and it usually stays in place. I remove it after 36 hours.

 

I had a problem with pond snails, I used copper to finally get rid of them but before I found a way to get rid of some. I bought a cave for my fish it had a bottom and was pretty dark inside. Now before turning off the light I would remove the cave and it would be full of snails and tons underneath. Then I would rinse off and return to tank. I would try getting a flat solid object tying a sting to it and let it sit flat on gravel. Then before you turn the light out pull it out, the shrimp should jump off but the snails should stay remove the snails and put it back in. I removed hundred of snails this way, plus no mess.

 

You could just let them be xD. How I dealt with it in my carbon rilI tank

 

You could just let them be xD. How I dealt with it in my carbon rilI tank

I tried that, but with feeding the mysteries, population somewhat went crazy.

 

I tried that, but with feeding the mysteries, population somewhat went crazy.

You didn't ignore hard enough then xD. Honestly, their population should hit a certain point and then stop. It just seems that point has a higher concentration than you would prefer xD. My population stabilized once it hit like 2 snails for every shrimp. So many snails, so many shrimp. Snail population is a little low atm though, just sacrificed a literal handful to my featherfin squeaker two days ago. All my tanks but the one with a featherfin ended up looking like this xD.

 

1 snail per 2 shrimp I could deal with, but right now I'm pulling out about that many once or twice a day. If you ever make it to the DFW area and are in need of some, I'd be happy to part with a few of them