Which snails

Hello I have finally come round to thinking about getting some snails for my bettas tank he is in a 23 litre fluval edge. He is a playful little fish and I think he would like some company I have been thinking about Malaysian trumpet snails but I know absolutely nothing about any kind of snail and was wondering if there is a better kind that would go in his tank. Any help and suggestions are most welcome (I have started this thread to take my mind off poorly Malcolm)

 

First of all, Bettas don't "like" company

Some bettas do fine with snails, others do not. You'll find out when you try lol. Nerite snails are good for eating algae, Mystery snails are fun but poop and eat a lot. MTS are good snails for digging through substrate. I've got MTS in most of my tanks. I will warn you that they can reproduce a lot. If the look of snails on the glass bothers you, they aren't the right snail. Personally, I think they look cool and I like them.

This is a picture of a couple of MTS on the glass of one of my tanks.

 

MTS are nice cleaners, but they hide most of the time and if you're getting them to amuse you (or your fish), they might not be the right choice. Mystery snails have a bit more personality. I just got two last week and they are cute little guys that spend most of their time cleaning your walls and decor. Be warned, especially with a betta, he might nip at mysteries they have these dangly tentacles that some fish can't resist. Don't ask how I know.

 

I have MTS in my tank and think they are great in the Fluval.
I originally was going to put my Mystery snail in with the Betta ( they were previously living great together for a few months ) but then I had the thing with my Betta blowing a bubble nest ( in the old tank ) and started attacking the mystery snail. Now, since he can no longer blow any bubbles due to the water level, I think he is fine. He doesn't even notice the snails ( MTS ) now and is perfectly content.
I like the MTS cause they are really small and don't get too big.
Overfeeding is a cause for concern as far as the population goes. So if you start to see an explosion, then you may need to back off a little on the food supply.

Junne

 

My MTS don't hide. Although I do have hundreds of them

 

I have MTS and nerites (as well as pond snails and ramshorns, but I think I'm the only person who intentionally keeps those ). I personally love seeing the MTS dig in the sand. It's fun when you see the sand moving and you know there's a snail burrowing underneath.

 

If you want your Betta to have company then I would suggest a Nemo clip or couple of Marimo balls.

If I had to choose a snail, then I would pick MTS...resilient/prolific little suckers.

 

What about nerites? They come in a variety of types, stay small, and do an excellent job cleaning algae.

I would get about 3 or 4. Don't worry though, they can't reproduce in freshwater, so you'll never have to worry about a population explosion.

 

What about nerites? They come in a variety of types, stay small, and do an excellent job cleaning algae.

I would get about 3 or 4. Don't worry though, they can't reproduce in freshwater, so you'll never have to worry about a population explosion.

I mentioned Nerites in my first post!

 

I mentioned Nerites in my first post!

You must've 'd her

 

Well, I am a ninja

 

I mentioned nerites toooo you guysss

 

Hello ninjas I think company would be in Houdinis tank I've only ever seen him flare once and that was at me on fasting day lol he is a little piggy. I have looked at Nerite snails just and they are pretty but I think I have fallen in love with mts' as they can burrow too I think this would be better for houdinI just incase.
I did try marimo balls but as ever I managed to kill them off I just can't do live plants think I will mail my favourite LFS and see if they have any although got to wait for payday. If they do breed a lot I can always give some to them. Thank you for the suggestions.
As far as looking after them do they require anything special? I have already got algae wafers and pellets and there are lots of hiding places in the tank already. My tank is set at 80 is this ok for them temperature wise?

 

My tank is also at 80, and I alternate feeding algae wafers and shrimp pellets, both of which they seem to enjoy eating.

 

Cool thank you

 

I LOVE my MTS snails!!! They come out during the day but mostly I have been seeing them after the lights go out! They are so cute cause when they're sleeping under the sand, their little butts stick out and I occasionally see them wriggling it!!!
Then when they are roaming the tank, their pointy butts leave a trail in the sand - sometimes following the pattern is funny in itself that they go in circles and seemingly nowhere! It's like they are lost in the forrest! LOL

Although my Mystery snails are fun to watch, they are not nearly as amusing as my MTS

 

I love my MTS,MS, and Rams(just got three today from a friend)

 

I have been in touch with one of my favourite LFS' and they can get me mts woo hoo roll on payday

 

I have been in touch with one of my favourite LFS' and they can get me mts woo hoo roll on payday

Yay!!!!

Sent from my DROID2 using Forum Runner

 

Hello everyone I was planning on getting snails when me tank finishes cycling and I have a few questions
1)Nerite snails or mystery
I like the look of he mystery and that that have the white body that you can see and that they have their body showing but from he pictures I seen Nerite don't show very much body and I want to be able to see them so is there a special type of Nerite that you can see or no?

2) I plan on having some albino Cory added and o already have some black skirt tetra and guppy I was wondering if they would bother him at all? Maybe if the snail dogs into the gravel will the Cory bother him ? Or the tetra nip? My tetra don't nip at my guppy at all so I don't think they would make a problem but you never know for sure when adding someone new to the tank

3) there is a small gap between my cover part that flips up for feeding and the rest I'll show a picture but would they somehow be able to escape through that? And there are a few hole on the back for cord that they might be able to leave through so how would I make it snail proof for the most part?

3) I have not owned snails before but I have been reading a lot about there diet and I'm waiting on the tank to mature a little bit more and hopefully have some algae for them to eat along with other foods I will feed them it I was wondering if they can eat flakes that fall to the bott that my Cory doesn't catch right away?

4) do they need to be in groups of more them 1? I only really want one but if I have to get more I can and will


I'm sorry for so many questions and such a long post so I'll end it fast but if anybody has any tips along with the questions they are grealtly appreciated and photos will be in my comment below
thanks, Bailey

 

 

Hello there!

I adore mystery snails. They are probably my favorite aquatic creature. I would definitely recommend you get one. Each one has their own little personality. They can be kept alone or in groups, and I have never had any fish bother them. They also do not reproduce asexually as most other freshwater snails do, so if you don't want to worry about hundreds of baby snails all over I would recommend you get a single mystery snail. Mine love algae wafers, but they will eat fallen flakes and even fish poop. They aren't the greatest algae eaters though, if you were looking for that. I have never had one try to escape, but you do need to lower the water level at least a couple inches because they come to the surface to breathe. And if you want multiple but don't want babies, they lay their eggs above the water line and are pretty easy to get rid.

Best of wishes!

 

Hello there!

I adore mystery snails. They are probably my favorite aquatic creature. I would definitely recommend you get one. Each one has their own little personality. They can be kept alone or in groups, and I have never had any fish bother them. They also do not reproduce asexually as most other freshwater snails do, so if you don't want to worry about hundreds of baby snails all over I would recommend you get a single mystery snail. Mine love algae wafers, but they will eat fallen flakes and even fish poop. They aren't the greatest algae eaters though, if you were looking for that. I have never had one try to escape, but you do need to lower the water level at least a couple inches because they come to the surface to breathe. And if you want multiple but don't want babies, they lay their eggs above the water line and are pretty easy to get rid.

Best of wishes!

Thanks for the input I'm glad that my fish should leave them alone that makes me feel better about then

 

the good thing about nerites is that won't breed in fresh water, but are mainly algae eaters and don't do much scavenging.

Were as mystery snails can't breed without the opposite sex, as they are either male or female and not both like most snails

 

So nerites are basically the David Bowie's of the snail world without being able to carry a tune; that nonsense aside I am just posting to Bayster70 to explain why I liked your question.
You have done your research, posted with all needed info (by us guys of which you are one, making an answer possible), and are quite willing to bend what you want to what the snail (in this case) wants. Well done, and Pleased to meet you, rick

 

PlatySquad4's question has been moved to a thread of it's own
Here is the link with the responses:

 

Hi, I would recommend an apple snail (mystery snail) personally, I have 5 of these little buggers and they are loads of fun to watch. My tank is exactly like yours with the holes and the gap between the lid. Don't stress. As long as your water is in good condition your snails won't want to leave the tank. However, I would recommend getting a filter intake cover. I lost my favorite big guy from that they sure love to explore! Mine love to hide in little nooks and crannys so be sure to provide some shaded hide areas have fun!!!!

 

I prefer nerites to mystery snails. Reason being is that nerites are much more active imo and they eat algae. Who doesn't like a clean up crew with a low bioload that eats algae??

 

My mysteries are waaay more active and entertaining than my nerites fwiw. + like, 8 for a pre filter sponge over your intake, one of my females almost got eaten by the filter intake of my acuaclear 50, it took her about a week to recover fully, scared me half to death. Since you're getting a small snail, the intake cover is especially important btw.

 

Your answer is biased since you have 200 mysteries compared to only a few nerites my nerites actually move around... My two mysteries don't move much, they're so lazy!

 

I think you just got unhealthy mysteries, I'm really not biased, I got nerites before mysteries so I had plenty of time to observe them alone, lol. I love my nerites too, they're just not as entertaining imo.

 

I have a nerite and a mystery as well. The mystery moves around like crazy (it loves to climb to the top of plants and just drop down...lol) but my nerite just kind of moves along at a snail's pace . It's so slow, but I appreciate what it does.

 

So could I take a new sponge and put it over the filter intake and that would work? Rinse the sponge in old tank water or something like that?or do I need to get a special sponge from the pet store ?

 

I use the Fluval prefilter sponges over my intakes but I'm certain you can take a new sponge and cut to fit over the tubes.

 

I used an acuaclear sponge cut to fit for a couple of mine, because nobody here carries pre filter sponges, it's worked very well for me.

 

HI guys! What kind of snail do you think is best for my tank ? Ill need it for algae control, and I currently have limpets in my aquarium that id like to get rid off as well. I currently have a 7gallon aquarium and the only thing that’s in it is a female betta, the tank has 2 indian almond leaves, a piece of drift wood and some anubias on it. There is also a 5 gallon aquarium, 2 indian almond leaves on it, no plants, but for some reason there is some algae. The 5 gallon tank has a pretty aggressive male betta in it

Also, general rules of snail keeping are appreciated!

Thanks!

 

If you don't mind that your tank will get overrun with snails then mystery snails.
Nerite snail is great but they leave hard eggs on surfaces only positive thing is that they need brackish water to hatch so if you add 2 you will have only two of them

 

When happy mystery snails can bless you with a bunch of little ones.

As appcontrol suggested nerites are very good at algae control. I have four in the 55. Have never found so much as one egg from them. I am guessing they get eaten by the fish.

A cuttle bone for them to munch on for calcium is a good idea.

 

I don't want them to multiply ahaha

Will nerites eat algae ? Will I need to feed them anything specific that my betta might not like ?

 

I don't want them to multiply ahaha

Will nerites eat algae ? Will I need to feed them anything specific that my betta might not like ?

Nerites are good at algae control but your best bet is to solve why you have an algae issue.

I have never seen them eat any of the veg and algae wafers I put in for the plecs.