I could physically remove them but it would always leave a few I missed and then the problem returns. Looking for fish that will eat them or a chemical that will kill them.
2007-03-29 03:21:15 · 8 answers · asked by The Cheminator 5 in Pets ➔ Fish
28 gallon aquarium...Fresh water
2007-03-29 03:38:50 · update #1
Use a small plastic container with holes in it large enough for the snails but too small for the fish. Toss in a small handfull of gravel so that it will sink and a luttce leaf to bait the trap. Leave this in the bottom of the tank over night and you will be surprized how many snails will find it. In the morning simply remove it and clean out the snails and lettuce. Repeat as needed and before you know it you'll have them under control. Once a week is usually more than enough to keep the population to a very low level.
Having a few is not a bad thing, it's actually good for a tank. Just keep them in check and it's for the better in the long run. Clown loaches will each them with great gusto.
There are chemical treatments available to kill them but those are also quite harsh on the fish and plants so I would recommend you avoid them.
MM
2007-03-29 04:19:04 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
We had the same problem. We tried the chemical snail be gone from the pet store but it didn't really solve the problem since it kills the snails but not the eggs, so you will always have them.
The thing that worked for us was to clean out the tank and boil every thing (gravel, plants, accessories) for about 5 minutes. Including the filter parts but be careful to stir them around in the boiling water as they will melt if they touch the bottom of the pot (learned that the hard way)
After we did that, the snails didn't come back. Also if you have real plants you can dip them in a 5% bleach mix and rinse well after.
If you want a fish to do the job, you can get a loach, but they only recommend them in a 20 gallon + tank as they grow pretty big and need space.
Hope this helps !
2007-03-29 03:32:35 · answer #2 · answered by jeepnuk 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Loaches are excellent Snail eaters, and can co-exist with Goldfish.
What other livestock is in your tank? Plants and/or fish....this can seriously affect your possibilities of introducing new fish to your tank.
The healthiest way to maintain tanks is through plants and animals, not chemicals. If you've got the room, introduce a loach.
Now the point made that snails eat the fungus, waste, and algae in your tank is very valid. They do this and are VERY beneficial to your aquarium. This being said, I would recommend maybe buying some densa to keep in a small tank or bowl to harvest snails for your main tank. This way you can always have a supply of feeders for your loach, and janitors for your tank. Although there are other animals you can purchase for your tank that can do the same thing....many invertebrates, and even fish (plecos) will do the same.
Below is a link to a site that sells all types of fish and inverts
and to loach information
2007-03-29 05:48:33 · answer #3 · answered by subwaytig 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Easiest way to remove your snails is to use a piece of lettuce. Weigh it down to the bottom of the tank over night. It will be covered in the morning, just remove the entire piece. Repeat as needed to remove the amount you want.
No chemicals needed.
2007-03-29 04:06:04 · answer #4 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
do you mean malaysian trumpet snails? they are a well known plague problem snail!
snail-eating fish - do you have room for these? you haven't said how large your tank is and what is currently stocked. loaches are well know snail gobblers, and puffer fish as well of course not a community tank though, BUT not all of them will touch trumpets, they're too much work to get out of the shell compared to ramshorn snails or pond snails.
chemicals - sure they kill the snail, but you're still going to have to manually pick out the dead rotting snails and empty shells.
unfortunately i've found the best way to get rid of pest snails is persistance and manual labour. do the cucumber or lettace trick, put it in in the evening, in the morning pull it out and throw away all the little snails that are attached to it. everytime you see a snail, even if you're just passing by, pick it out and throw it away. it's taken me about 3 months to rid my tanks completely of ramshorn snails.
2007-03-29 03:27:59 · answer #5 · answered by catx 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'll agree with danielle and magicman on this one. Lettuce or cucumber slice will work, although it can take some time. But with a tank of 28g your only other option would be a small group of Yo-yo loaches(Pakistani loaches).
2007-03-29 11:38:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not remove or kill them they are very beneficial to the ecosystem of the acquarium because they eat the mold and scum off the sides and the bottom of the acquarium. With them in there the fish will live longer and healthier lives.
2007-03-29 03:29:02 · answer #7 · answered by thomas m 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
KILL THE EGGS WHEN THE MOTHER LAYS THEM or get a spatula and get them 1 by 1 OR SELL THEM or don't get females
2007-03-29 06:41:46 · answer #8 · answered by Orhan K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋