Tropical fish snail probs, how to remove from wood?

Question

I have got a major snail problem going on in my tank, they have taken a particular fancy to the bogwood and have laid slimey snail egg yuk all over it, I have removed it whilst doing a partial water change and I don't want to put it back in until I have annhilalated them and their icky gunk.
What's the best way to get 'em? I was thinking of scrubbing the wood with a new (unused) toothbrush and boiling water, but don't want to upset the bacteria thing.
Any tried and tested methods without a 30 mile round trip to the fishy shop? My catfish are seriously pissed off 'cos I've nicked their hidey holes...

Answer 1

As far as your wood, I think I would probably do a partial water change, then in the bucket with the old water, put the wood in it and scrub it with the toothbrush (I don't think doing anything to the wood will hurt if your tank if established). Snails are so hard to get rid of, you certainly don't want the eggs hatching. I might treat the wood only with copper sulfate which kills snails and eggs, then make sure I soaked it in tank water (out of the tank) because it can harm invertebrates if you have them, and I wouldn't want to subject my fish to high levels.
As far as total snail control off the wood, you only have a few options, unfortunately. Also though, keep in mind that not ALL snails are "bad" snails (but hundreds of snails, good OR bad are a HUGE pain! (i.e. apple snails, also called the "mystery snail" or "brigs", can be helpful to your tank by eating dead plant matter and other "unwanted" material, and will not usually bother your live plants unless there is no other food available....they are also the biggest freshwater snails on earth.)

So, here are your options (short version):
1. Buy a Yoyo loach....these loaches stay relatively small. People suggest Clown loaches, which are good too, but they can grow to 12+", so if you have a smaller tank, this type is not such a great idea;
2. Food trick: Put a slice of something large (that sinks) in your tank over night....such as a slice of zucchini. Get up early (preferably while reasonably dark) sneak in on them, and scoop them up into a net (a massive amount will have gone to the food during the night, and although you won't get all of them, you'll get a lot!!)..."sneaking" part optional, regular walking will do fine, lol....besides, you may scare the dog;
3. UGH.........Complete taking down of your tank and starting all over (what a pain in the neck!!); and lastly
4. Chemical snail removers (which I opt against due to the fact they can alter your water chemistry and stress your fish) Personally, I don't like using this type of chemical. Others don't have a problem with it, it's a personal choice.

Snails and snail eggs hitchhike in most of the time on your live plants. One way to kill the snails is to clean your plants prior to putting them in your tank by soaking them in a solution of 10 mg/l potassium permanganate solution for 10 to 15 minutes then rinsing them with clean water. You can also soak your new plants for 2 to 3 minutes in a 5% bleach solution, then rinse the plants in water with chlorine remover added (the same chlorine remover that you would use in your aquarium).
Well, I hope this helps you in some way, and Good Luck!! ;o)

Answer 2

While there are, no doubt, lots of beneficial bacteria on the driftwood,removing them should not create a major change in tank ecology. However,there will, also no doubt, be a repeat performance if you can't remove the offending inverts. Copper compounds will terminate the total snail population, but if it's a large group you will have a tank full of dead meat, and a corresponding ammonia spike. Back in the dim recesses of the past (50's and 60's), we'd put a penny in the tank and when the little buggers were sufficiently dead the change would be retrieved and spent.
Perhaps,if you have the "bio-space" (Ooooo,new word) in your aquarium, two or three Clown Loaches might do a little house cleaning for you. I think that snail-eating fish is the safest solution. I'm sure that there are other species of snail eaters out there besides Clowns,and a little research should turn some of them up.
If your resentful catfishes are of the Pleco ilk they will probably eat the snail eggs in their regular ruminations.

Answer 3

tropical fish snail probs remove wood

Answer 4

The greatest snail removal system I ever had was 2 clown loaches. I often have the same problem when I buy live plants, and added a couple of those guys to the tank has always cleared the problem right up.

Answer 5

I had the same problem. Went out on Sunday and bought 2 clown loach. Its now wednesday and not a snail in sight. Tried taking the wood out and boiling it etc. nothing worked until now.

Answer 6

You can clean the bogwood without worrying about disturbing any bacteria etc, the filter contains all the bacteria that keeps the quality of the water good for the fish. you can ge some stuff from the fish shops or ebay to help with the snail problem as this is the only sure way to get rid of them all.

Answer 7

boiling hot water for 10 min's then rince or get tiger barbs (fish) and teach them to eat the snails ( crush with finger leave in tank tiger barbs will eat) after a little time thay will eat them for themselfs, if not get a yabby ( small cray fish/ lobster) but not good with small fish 4cm or more.
hope this is ok

Answer 8

I know the perfect solution if you are just starting with woodworking and also if you have already experience with it. I reccomend to give a look to this website ( woodworkingplans.kyma.info ) You can find a lot of woodworking plans and you will be able to manage the projects with a CAD/DWG software. It allows you to modify the projects and to alter the arragements. If you are a beginner this is the easiest way to start, it's the best approach to woodworking; and if you already have experience you will find a lot of ideas and inspirations to improve your abilities with woodwork. I'm sure that you will love it!

Answer 9

Get some chinese cats they are only small but they will eat the snails in no time.

Answer 10

hey....a Yo-yo loach fish cld solve ur problem....this cld be a natural problem as it loves live snails...any other easy way snail remover supplement...hope i answered ur question.