Ramshorn snails. Don't make my mistake.
Jimmy Jo
I was a newbie, set up a tank, struggled with algae and green water for a
few weeks. Also got snails with plants, burrowing ones and 2 types of
ramshorn; brown and red, also pond ones I think. One day my tank was
finally under control, nice and clear, but I had a lot of unsightly
snails. So I read the internet, got some snail eating fish since I
didn't want to add medicines. I also would meticulously pick the snails
by hand and throw them away. I got most of the big ones, and the loaches
ate the small ones. Every time I pass the tank and would see snails, I
would pick it off. Pretty soon, no more snails.
Guess what! In a few days, I had an algae outbreak you wouldn't believe.
There was algae coating everything, even the hard stuff coating the
sides. It wasn't excess proteins because I didn't crush the snails in
the tank. I think the snails were keeping the tank clean, because I
rememered the ramshorns were against the glass and their little mouths
would be opening and closing and a little tongue would be coming out and
now I realize they were licking all the algae off. That's the only
explanation. I went to the pet shops and sought out the same snails I
tossed out, it was hard to find snails on purpose. I couldn't find the
nice red ramshorns anywhere. It took months to get the population back
and they keep the tank clean. I also got rid of the snail eating
loaches.
Now I like keeping the snails around and they keep my tank clean. So I
felt bad about killing those helpful little guys. I had some nice big
ones too, especially the bright red ones, I can't find those anywhere
anymore, I hope they're not endangered species.
LeighMo
a lot of people have bought loaches, etc., to kill their snails...then had
algae problems.
I like snails, myself. IME, they are the very best algae-eaters.
Leigh
Paul
"Jimmy Jo" <jimn...@jonospam.jimmynospam> wrote in message
news:MPG.18118e015...@news.earthlink.net...
>
> > Now I like keeping the snails around and they keep my tank clean. So I
> felt bad about killing those helpful little guys. I had some nice big
> ones too, especially the bright red ones, I can't find those anywhere
anymore, I hope they're not endangered species.
>
ones and they don't seem to get big, but not having any algae problems in
either tank now so not changing anything, including leaving the snails
alone.
--
Paul
oplh...@hotmail.com
"You can make it foolproof, but you can't make it Damned foolproof."
Aqua
about keeping snail population under control. I don't want to go for
loaches.because of their sizes. Could you guys suggest some other snails
which may not reproduce like above
--
Thank You
Dominic
http://www.dlink.org/aqua
"LeighMo" <lei...@aol.comNoSpam> wrote in message
news:20021012071014...@mb-fp.aol.com...
LeighMo
>about keeping snail population under control. I don't want to go for
>loaches.because of their sizes. Could you guys suggest some other snails
>which may not reproduce like above
Pomacea bridgesi is easy to control. (A species of apple/mystery snail.) It
doesn't eat healthy plants. It takes two to tango, so if you only have one, it
won't reproduce in your tank. (Assuming you get a male, or a virgin female, of
course.) Even if you have more than one, you can control their breeding
easily, because they lay their eggs above the waterline. Just keep your eye
out for the large, pinkish egg mass. Scrape it off and flush it before the
eggs hatch, and you won't have baby snails.
Leigh
E.W. Marshall
(Jimmy Jo) wrote:
>unsightly snails.
Snails are cute!
>So I read the internet, got some snail eating fish since I
>didn't want to add medicines.
reasonable......
> I got most of the big ones
murderer!
> I think the snails were keeping the tank clean, because I
>rememered the ramshorns were against the glass and their little mouths
>would be opening and closing and a little tongue would be coming out and
>now I realize they were licking all the algae off. That's the only
>explanation. I went to the pet shops and sought out the same snails I
>tossed out, it was hard to find snails on purpose. I couldn't find the
>nice red ramshorns anywhere. It took months to get the population back
>and they keep the tank clean. I also got rid of the snail eating
>loaches.
It's balance. In YOUR case, the snails were helping, but many
aquariums also remain nearly algae free without them of course. In
addition to cleaning off leaves and glass, they also increase PO4
production in the water column. The elimination of BOTH probably
caused the outbreak in my opinion.
>Now I like keeping the snails around and they keep my tank clean. So I
>felt bad about killing those helpful little guys.
You are redeeming yourself now, you'll be fine. Good man!
E.W. Marshall
Colorado Rockies