What are some good ways to get rids of snails that have taken over my 20 gallon freshwater tank. I had a live plant in the tank but i took it out a few months ago but the snails are still there.
thanks
2006-11-27 10:07:44 · 11 answers · asked by matt b 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
If you have no more live plants, and no invertebrates, you should be able to knock them out using chelated copper sulfate. This is available under several trade names, including Aquarisol, and is sold as an "ich" medication. Remove any carbon from your filter, and treat using Aquarisol for 5 days at the recommended dosage. Another chemical solution is "snail-a-cide", which is a pesticide; read directions to determine if you have other animals that might be sensitive to this.
An "organic" solution is to add a Corydoras catfish or similar snail-eater to the tank. To help reduce the snail population, do a partial (~20%) water change using a siphon that has a gravel washing attachment (larger tube) on the end you place in the aquarium. Push it into the gravel, lift, and repeat over and over as the water is draining. As the suction breaks, the heavier gravel will fall back to the bottom. The ligher debri (including snails) will be siphoned off.
2006-11-27 10:15:33 · answer #1 · answered by JON B 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I had this EXACT same problem with my tank. When I first started up my fish tank I thought, "oh cool, I'll get some snails that will be neat." No, it isn't at all. My snails got out of control. They were everywhere! You pretty much have to take everything out of the tank and make sure all the snail eggs (the slimy, jelly like things) are off of everything. Then you have to pick all of the snails off of everything. Then after you have gotton all the snails that you can see out of the tank, you need to take some aquarium salt and put in your tank to take care of the rest. Good luck.
2006-11-27 10:32:21 · answer #2 · answered by Stephanie 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get a fish that eats snails. Yoyo loach is the best choice for controlling snails and should do fine in your aquarium. They suck the snails out of their shells and eat them. Keep the aquarium covered because they can jump.
2006-11-27 10:11:22 · answer #3 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Of course there sea snails. Wash your fish tank and take out some.
2006-11-27 10:12:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
snails are a real pain the breed alot and get into every place they can. best to claen tank & filter well.
2006-11-27 10:10:39 · answer #5 · answered by Tree 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
crush them in the tank..the fish will eat their remains...jsut keep crushing them, if u see eggs (little white spots), remove them. If you continously keep crushing them, eventually not many of the snails will grow large enough to reproduce, and they will gradually die out
2006-11-27 12:43:37 · answer #6 · answered by . 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
are these sea snails or just garden snails?
2006-11-27 10:09:40 · answer #7 · answered by LizZARD E 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
be humane please... take all of your snails you don't want and put them in a river or pond. then clean out the tank VERY well. use vinegar.
2006-11-27 17:26:30 · answer #8 · answered by Kylie Anne 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
catcha as many snails as you can and flush them. repeat daily for best results
2006-11-27 10:09:40 · answer #9 · answered by midnight_tiny 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
crush their shells before they get too big and feed them back to your fish.
2006-11-27 11:11:54 · answer #10 · answered by superspiker69 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋