55 Gallon Tank What snails would suffice?!

[adh/smile]

Ok. I will look into getting either a nerite or a ramshorn. I'll do some more online researching and looking at my lfs. Thanks for all your help!!!

 

[Punkin]

Ok. I will look into getting either a nerite or a ramshorn. I'll do some more online researching and looking at my lfs. Thanks for all your help!!!

You are welcome. If I am not mistaken, ramshorns may be considered to be pest snails by some, as they can breed profusely.

 

[adh/smile]

You are welcome. If I am not mistaken, ramshorns may be considered to be pest snails by some, as they can breed profusely.

Thanks for pointing that out. I'll keep that in mind. There's also still this tiny problem of my mom freaking out that a snail will escape the tank. I'll do some research and try to convince her!!! Wish me luck...!

 

[Punkin]

If your tank is well covered, I think you should be ok.

 

[BAS Aquariums]

HI everyone,
I have a desire to get a snail of some kind. I have heard from this forum, and other sources online that snails make a wonderful addition to an aquarium. I've heard funny stories ranging from snails surfing on filter waves; crawling up a heater and when it turns on and gets too hot they jump off and fall all the way back to the bottom of the tank. I am in need of some entertainment like that! My question is what snail should I get? Mystery snail? Golden Apple snail? Nerite Snail?

What snails do you have? What funny story do you have about your snail?

I found one of my very large apple snails on my nightstand when I got up one morning

 

[adh/smile]

I found one of my very large apple snails on my nightstand when I got up one morning

Really??? That's creepy! Did he live? Is he ok? Is the tank he came from on your nightstand, or is it elsewhere in the room and crawled all the way over? I don't think I'll get an apple snail!!!

 

[RobinWhiskers]

I almost didn't get a nerite snail for my Betta tank because I wouldn't do well if one got out. I have two holes on the back of my lid for the cords of the heater, light, and filter. I put a flap of tape over each and Zeus is yet to escape. Don't worry too much, have a secure lid and cover holes and I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[adh/smile]

I almost didn't get a nerite snail for my Betta tank because I wouldn't do well if one got out. I have two holes on the back of my lid for the cords of the heater, light, and filter. I put a flap of tape over each and Zeus is yet to escape. Don't worry too much, have a secure lid and cover holes and I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Ok thank you! I'll definitely have to cover up some holes on my tank lid before I get a snail!

 

[Punkin]

I used very inexpensive craft plastic from the sewing/embroidery section of my local craft store to cover the hole for my filter so snails can't escape. It cost me less that $1 and I cut it to fit. You can get all sorts of colors, I chose black to match.

 

[Fancyfins]

Hello! I’m saving up for a ten gallon Betta tank right now, and I was thinking about adding shrimp to it (My Betta is a really peaceful guy.) But I know they need perfect water conditions.... and they are a bit pricey sometimes.... and I just think snails would be a better option for me. What type of snail would I get? I kinda want a big, faster-ish snail. But what would I feed them, when would I feed them, and how would I feed them? I did have a snail, but I managed to kill it >.> But, that was before I got my Betta, I got my Betta later that week, and I’m almost positive the snail died from ammonia poisoning because my tank wasn’t cycled. I’m thinking I’m ready to attempt another snail now. (My tank is cycled) Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[Alex6455]

For a bigger/faster snail, mystery snails (also known as apple snails) are pretty cool! They are very interesting to watch, and come in many colors. To feed them, you can put algae wafers or dark green veggies like cucumber in the tank, as they cannot sustain themselves on only algae. One note of caution: mystery snails can get themselves hurt on the intake of a HOB filter, so you should add a prefilter on the intake if you have an HOB. They are also renowned escape artists, so keep the tank well covered. Hope this helps!

 

[Siphon]

Alex is right about the intake filter. Seriosly they are suicidal.

An ivory mystery snail and 3 Bumble nerite snails would be sweet

The nerites will clean algae and the mysterys are rocket powered. zooming around with antenna flowing in the current

 

[Alex6455]

Yup! Nerites would go great! I didn't mention them because they are smaller, but a few nerites and a mystery would keep the tank sparkling. Nerites love my algae

 

[Shannon Griscom]

Hello! I’m saving up for a ten gallon Betta tank right now, and I was thinking about adding shrimp to it (My Betta is a really peaceful guy.) But I know they need perfect water conditions.... and they are a bit pricey sometimes.... and I just think snails would be a better option for me. What type of snail would I get? I kinda want a big, faster-ish snail. But what would I feed them, when would I feed them, and how would I feed them? I did have a snail, but I managed to kill it >.> But, that was before I got my Betta, I got my Betta later that week, and I’m almost positive the snail died from ammonia poisoning because my tank wasn’t cycled. I’m thinking I’m ready to attempt another snail now. (My tank is cycled) Any suggestions are appreciated!

I second the nerite nail recommendation. Mystery snails move around with a lot of their body exposed. I think nerites would be harder to pick at. And I think they look cooler

 

[Jabberwock]

Nerites also do not reproduce in fresh water. Mystery snails can reproduce explosively, and you don't need two to make hundreds of baby snails...

 

[Rtessy]

Mystery snails have a lot of personality, and they can only reproduce if you happen to have both a male and female. Even then, they lay the eggs above the water line so they're very easy to remove

 

[Jabberwock]

Mystery snails have a lot of personality, and they can only reproduce if you happen to have both a male and female. Even then, they lay the eggs above the water line so they're very easy to remove

That is correct. Just hope you don't get a pregnant one...

 

[Rtessy]

That is correct. Just hope you don't get a pregnant one...

Lol I think that can be said for just about everything... guppies, mollies, platies
Golden rule when buying (unless you're buying to breed) just hope it's not pregnant, or you're buying a couple hundred

 

[GrayGray4231]

Hello! I’m saving up for a ten gallon Betta tank right now, and I was thinking about adding shrimp to it (My Betta is a really peaceful guy.) But I know they need perfect water conditions.... and they are a bit pricey sometimes.... and I just think snails would be a better option for me. What type of snail would I get? I kinda want a big, faster-ish snail. But what would I feed them, when would I feed them, and how would I feed them? I did have a snail, but I managed to kill it >.> But, that was before I got my Betta, I got my Betta later that week, and I’m almost positive the snail died from ammonia poisoning because my tank wasn’t cycled. I’m thinking I’m ready to attempt another snail now. (My tank is cycled) Any suggestions are appreciated!

All they eat is algae. Glide your finger up the tank wall, is it slimy? If so, you have algae!

 

[Bithimala]

Mystery snails do need their own diet, they aren't really built to survive on algae. That would be my suggestion based on what you said you wanted. Only concern would be to keep an eye on the betta in case he starts getting feisty.

 

[Fancyfins]

Also, I’m planning on the tanks substrate to be sand. Would the sand stick to the snails ‘foot’ and hurt him? Would if affect how he moves around? That’s the one thing I’m concerned about. Also will the nerites hurt my plants? I’m planning on keeping Java Fern and Anubias in there. I reallyyyyy don’t want a bunch of holes in my plants. I might go with an ivory mystery snail and maybe a Nerite or two.... I like the look of the ivory mystery snails And I like the black nerite snails, they seem pretty cute!

 

[Siphon]

Sand won't be a problem! they might leave snail trails for the first while on the sand until it becomes a part of the cycled tank

 

[Pringlethesnail]

Sand isn’t a problem. Nerites will “clean” the plants but not hurt them unless there starving or the leaf is already dead. Betta are honestly a horrible match with mystery snails. 5/6 male bettas Ive had could not live with mysteries. They tourtured them and ate their antenna. It was horrible. Nerites are less exposed and their antennas are small and they don’t wave around as much as mystery snails. Mystery snail antennas waving around look like a delicious juicy worm to bettas. Add the that the aggression of a male betta. Not a great match. As said above they need their own diet and can’t live off algae. They need to be fed an omnivorous water at least every other day.

 

[iDon'tCare]

I will always recommend mystery snails, they tend to be better than Nerites if you're looking for a cleanup crew, and personally I'm not one to scrub snail gunk off the tank that much like you do with Nerites. I don't mean to trash talk them though, they still clean well and look nice.

Sand isn’t a problem. Nerites will “clean” the plants but not hurt them unless there starving or the leaf is already dead. Betta are honestly a horrible match with mystery snails. 5/6 male bettas Ive had could not live with mysteries. They tourtured them and ate their antenna. It was horrible. Nerites are less exposed and their antennas are small and they don’t wave around as much as mystery snails. Mystery snail antennas waving around look like a delicious juicy worm to bettas. Add the that the aggression of a male betta. Not a great match. As said above they need their own diet and can’t live off algae. They need to be fed an omnivorous water at least every other day.

Really? I always have mystery snails with my betta and he doesn't came about them.

All they eat is algae. Glide your finger up the tank wall, is it slimy? If so, you have algae!

They both eat algae but Nerites tend to only eat algae.

 

[Pringlethesnail]

Really? I always have mystery snails with my betta and he doesn't came about them.

Yeah 5/7 Male bettas I’ve had have eaten antennas for breakfast. Just tested my new betta and this is the result. Luckily I’ve got a ton of tanks
i

 

[scohen]

Gold Inca Snails are really good.

 

[Pringlethesnail]

Inca snails is what petco made up to name their mystery snails. They’re pomacea diffusa or mystery snails. They just literally made up the Inca name out of nowhere.

 

[Samanthaljay]

Hey everyone

I recently had one of my nerite snails die and was trying to decide if I want to get another one (there is still 1 in the tank) or if I should switch it up and get a different kind. I have been reading through a lot of posts and was wondering what your favorite snail is and why? I have only had nerites.

Thanks!

 

[Addie42]

Hey everyone

I recently had one of my nerite snails die and was trying to decide if I want to get another one (there is still 1 in the tank) or if I should switch it up and get a different kind. I have been reading through a lot of posts and was wondering what your favorite snail is and why? I have only had nerites.

Thanks!

maybe ramshorn if you like em?? I personally do
do you know why the snail died or was it just old

 

[Iverg1]

Nerite’s are my favorite as they are cleaning machines! They also don’t produce in freshwater.

 

[Addie42]

Nerite’s are my favorite as they are cleaning machines! They also don’t produce in freshwater.

I also have an single assassin snail in my tank that I think it may be responsible for eating the ramshorn babies bc I haven't seen any

I have one nerite my LFS calls "red onion snail" and I don't get to see him a lot but I really like my black racer nerite. He's almost as fast as the ramshorns

 

[Iverg1]

I also have an single assassin snail in my tank
Well that complicates things. May I ask why you have an assassin in there?

 

[Samanthaljay]

maybe ramshorn if you like em?? I personally do
do you know why the snail died or was it just old

thanks! I am guessing age? I am not sure what the life span is on them but he was the bigger out of the two and has been that size since I first got them. He was also always the slow poke out of the two, I feel like my other one would lap him! lol

 

[Samanthaljay]

Nerite’s are my favorite as they are cleaning machines! They also don’t produce in freshwater.

I agree! I might just get another nerite but figured I would see what everyone elses opinions are!

 

[Addie42]

I also have an single assassin snail in my tank
Well that complicates things. May I ask why you have an assassin in there?

honestly I don't know, it hasn't killed any big snails. I just kind of like it. I'm sure it has eaten some pond snails from plants
I think they're super majestic but I don't want an army of them to take down my mystery snails. I get so excited when I see it on the glass- I just have a single assassin in my bigger tank with an assortment of snails, and a single assassin and a single ramshorn in my 5 gallon betta tank

why do you have a single assassin? haha

 

[JaksAquatics]

nerites are my fav but I do like mystorys

 

[Fanatic]

I always loved my nerite guys, they would snail around the tank and did a wonderful job of eating the algae and biofilm that developed on the glass.

 

[Lynn78too]

Assassin snails don't care if a snail is pretty or your favorite, they'll eat all other snails in the tank.

I like nerites because they don't reproduce. Ramshorn will balance out with the available food but you will never get rid of them once you have them.

 

[AlleyOH]

I like the mystery snails!

 

[prasunchoudhari]

I am setting up a new tank and will want to know from you all brothers weather which snails will be better for my tank


I am going to keep guppies, neon tetras, sword tails, zebras and mollies in the tank



thanking you in advanced

 

[Crispii]

Nerite.

 

[e_watson09]

It really depends on what size tank and what your goals are for the snail? Are you looking for a snail to do a specific job? (If so, what is that job - algae, extra food, just entertainment, etc)

 

[prasunchoudhari]

It really depends on what size tank and what your goals are for the snail? Are you looking for a snail to do a specific job? (If so, what is that job - algae, extra food, just entertainment, etc)

my tank dimenssions are as follows 12 inches height, 12 inches breadth and 18 inches length

it is a 16 to 16.5 gallons tank I suppose

purpose of the snails is for excess food and algae

Nerite.

thank you sir for the valueable suggestion

 

[e_watson09]

my tank dimenssions are as follows 12 inches height, 12 inches breadth and 18 inches length

it is a 16 to 16.5 gallons tank I suppose

purpose of the snails is for excess food and algae



thank you sir for the valueable suggestion

Here are the two I would recommend with both pros and cons:

Nerite: GREAT for algae clean up but doesn't usually eat commercially prepared foods. Meaning the likely won't help with excess food, and often they won't eat even fresh foods we offer so making sure you have enough for them to eat in the tank is vital

Mystery Snail: GREAT for food clean up but only "ok" for helping with algae. They eagerly will eat pretty much anything tho. Downside: They have huge bioloads so make sure you keep up with water changes.

 

[EmmGood]

Zebra nerite, they're algae obsessed and will eat harder ones like green spot. They will leg the odd white egg however they can't hatch in freshwater, so you could just pop it off. And a mystery snail to get at leftover food and fish waste, they'll go for algae though not nearly as efficiently as a nerite.

 

[prasunchoudhari]

Here are the two I would recommend with both pros and cons:

Nerite: GREAT for algae clean up but doesn't usually eat commercially prepared foods. Meaning the likely won't help with excess food, and often they won't eat even fresh foods we offer so making sure you have enough for them to eat in the tank is vital

Mystery Snail: GREAT for food clean up but only "ok" for helping with algae. They eagerly will eat pretty much anything tho. Downside: They have huge bioloads so make sure you keep up with water changes.

thank you

Zebra nerite, they're algae obsessed and will eat harder ones like green spot. They will leg the odd white egg however they can't hatch in freshwater, so you could just pop it off. And a mystery snail to get at leftover food and fish waste, they'll go for algae though not nearly as efficiently as a nerite.

what is the way of hatching those snails as I am alos having a salt water setup which may help in hatching those

 

[Wardonianfungus]

thank you

what is the way of hatching those snails as I am alos having a salt water setup which may help in hatching those

Just pop ‘me in and watch

 

[e_watson09]

Just pop ‘me in and watch

Please to not just plop them in a salt water set up. They need a brackish environment and it takes time to acclimate them to the salt in the water. Its not just a drop them in and hope for the best.

If you're interested in breeding the nerite snail please research and take it slow. You really need to do it in a species only tank too since most fish will not tolerate the salinity change.

 

[prasunchoudhari]

Please to not just plop them in a salt water set up. They need a brackish environment and it takes time to acclimate them to the salt in the water. Its not just a drop them in and hope for the best.

If you're interested in breeding the nerite snail please research and take it slow. You really need to do it in a species only tank too since most fish will not tolerate the salinity change.

thank you for the valuable input

 

[juniperlea]

If it's a new tank, wait until you add snails.