I was wondering because when I go to the pet store I see tiny snails in the tanks. Can they be in gold fish tanks? Do they just appear or can you buy them?
2007-03-12 16:49:58 · 6 answers · asked by ♥Barbie Collector Krystal 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
It's a real 20 or 30 gallon tank.
2007-03-12 17:03:07 · update #1
depends on which snails you're talking about.
Large round snails like the gold inca and mystery snails are a lovely and inexpensive addition to a tank (provided they are compatible with your fish)
The small cone shaped snails are a pest and come in on plants and fish. They are asexual and reproduce rapidly... if not addressed, it doesn't take long before the infestation is bad enough to clog your filter (not to mention its unsightly)
Clown loaches eat them though and can be an easy solution depending on your tank and existing fish.
2007-03-12 18:38:54 · answer #1 · answered by Celena 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They often come in on plants.
I've currently got a Malaysian trumpet snail infestation. They are actually good for tanks as they eat debris and they help tanks like mine with sand as substrate by removing air pockets with their burrowing. However, if you get too many it makes your tank look bad. I've easily got hundreds.. I just can't bring myself to kill them, so I've been managing it by sucking up the eggs and being careful not to overfeed (if there are no leftovers, part of the population will naturally die of starvation).
Some pest snails will actually harm your tank though so make sure if you get live plants that you quarantine and rinse them off before you put them in your tank.
2007-03-13 03:30:14 · answer #2 · answered by lickitysplit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are some kinds that you can buy. Are you interested in freshwater or saltwater? There are ones for each, and you have to keep them in the environment they're adapted to. Be sure to get the right type for your home aquarium!
Generally, all marine snails you see in the tanks are okay to put in a home tank.
In freshwater, it's a different story. The larger snails (apple, mystery, LARGE ramshorns) are okay: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=1075 There's a small one called a Malaysian trumpet that's fine: http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_Melanoides_tuberculata.php although these reproduce quickly. Pond snails (http://www.bettatude.com/Snails/pond-snail1.jpg http://www.offwell.free-online.co.uk/Pond/FOLDER01/Pond_Snail-2.jpg ) and small ramshorn snails (http://www.peatlandsni.gov.uk/images/wildlife/aquainverts/ramsnail.jpg ) can be a problem. Usually, these come in to your tank as "hitchhikers" on plants or in bags. The only reason anyone would buy these are to feed pufferfish or loaches!
2007-03-13 02:36:40 · answer #3 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you buy them at the pet store and they help with keeping the tank clean but make sure the fish you have can be in a tank with them. Good luck
2007-03-12 23:57:42 · answer #4 · answered by randrnorman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
STOP!!!! dont get any snails they became a HUGE PROBLEM in my tank and i couldnt get rid of all of them they multipy so fast!! believe me i have 4 aquariums in my bedroom alone im only 15 lol!!!ive had fish since i was 7
2007-03-13 00:05:17 · answer #5 · answered by coonlake21 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course they don't pop out of nowhere. you can buy them or when you buy plants they may come in as stowaways between the leaves or as eggs but most likeley as hiders. To answer your question yes they can be in a goldfish tank. Please tell me it's a real tank and not a crappy bowl.
2007-03-12 23:56:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋