Hi,

I've been searching around and have been getting conflicting information.
I've got a few snails in my tank that I've identified as pond snails. So
far, the seem to be eating only algae, but they are laying a *LOT* of eggs.
I've been removing the eggs, but I'm sure that I must be missing some.

Are these guys going to overrun my tank and start eating the plants? At
first I thought that they were trumpet snails, but judging by the jelly like
eggs, they're pond snails. Different websites say that they are to be
avoided, and others say they'll stick to the algae. Any thoughts?

I've read that loaches will eat the snails, but my tank is a 30 gallon
community and I don't have any room to add loaches. Are there any small
peaceful fish that will eat snails?

Thanks in advance,
-tim

Are these guys going to overrun my tank and start eating the plants? At
first I thought that they were trumpet snails, but judging by the jelly
like
eggs, they're pond snails. Different websites say that they are to be
avoided, and others say they'll stick to the algae. Any thoughts?

I just leave them alone... the smaller snails seem to only pick at stuff
that's on it's way out, and may even help with algae control, substrate
aeration, digest uneaten food... if they are eating my plants, its easy to
grow the plants much faster than they are eating them. I see no reason to
keep loaches or "sterilize" incoming plants to avoid this... one vote for
let the snails be! (and mine are pond snails, little jelly eggs with
white centers)

Cheers,
Jeff Ludwig

"Tim Downey" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I've been searching around and have been getting conflicting information.
I've got a few snails in my tank that I've identified as pond snails. So
far, the seem to be eating only algae, but they are laying a *LOT* of eggs.
I've been removing the eggs, but I'm sure that I must be missing some.

Are these guys going to overrun my tank and start eating the plants? At
first I thought that they were trumpet snails, but judging by the jelly like
eggs, they're pond snails. Different websites say that they are to be
avoided, and others say they'll stick to the algae. Any thoughts?

Chances are that in a few weeks, you will have hundreds of the damn
things -- they breed *really* fast. Fishing them out by hand is a good
way to keep the numbers down, but it's tedious. And you will never
manage to eradicate them (at least not in a planted tank) -- there are
always a few eggs and snails that you miss and, next thing you know,
there are 100 more of the little buggers.

I've read that loaches will eat the snails, but my tank is a 30 gallon
community and I don't have any room to add loaches. Are there any small
peaceful fish that will eat snails?

Loaches will eat them, in particular, Botia Macracanthus (Clown Loach)
is reputed to be a good snail eater. Only glitch: full size is 12"!

Another option is Botia Lohachata (Yo-Yo Loach). Doesn't get quite as
big, about 4". Some people report that this fish can be quarrelsome, both
among each other and with other species. (But I have seen community
tanks with Botia Lohachata, together with small peaceful fish, such as
Iriatherina Werneri, Cardinal Tetra, and rainbows, so keeping these in
a community tank is possible at least for some people.)

Another option (maybe better for your 30 gal tank) is Anomalochromis
Thomasi (African Butterfly Cichlid or Dward Jewel Fish). The males grow
to 3", the females are a bit smaller. Very good in a community tank and
peaceful.
Likes slightly acidic water (6.5 pH), temperature around 26 degrees Celsius,
kH 4-8. Rumoured to be an excellent snail eater and very pretty. (I've just
added two of those to my tank, but it's too soon to tell whether they will
really get stuck into the snails.)

Cheers,

Michi.

--
Michi Henning Ph: +61 4 1118-2700
Triodia Technologies http://www.triodia.com/staff/michi

Another option is Botia Lohachata (Yo-Yo Loach). Doesn't get quite as
big, about 4". Some people report that this fish can be quarrelsome, both
among each other and with other species. (But I have seen community
tanks with Botia Lohachata, together with small peaceful fish, such as
Iriatherina Werneri, Cardinal Tetra, and rainbows, so keeping these in
a community tank is possible at least for some people.)

I have Botia Lohachata in a 20-gallon community tank. They are pure murder
on snails. I pick them out of other tanks and drop them in with the botias,
their life expectancy is mere seconds. Another (dubious) plus is that I've
never had to remove a dead fish from the tank - actually, I don't think I've
ever had the opportunity.

That said, never put botias in a tank where you'll be trying to get new
plants, particularly cuttings, established, or anything else that you don't
want to see floating at the surface later in the day. They dig, prod, and
probe incessantly. Don't count on being able to catch the botia and remove
it later. Anyone who's ever had a loach or botia in a planted tank knows
what I mean.

In article ,
Tim Downey wrote:
Hi,

I've been searching around and have been getting conflicting information.
I've got a few snails in my tank that I've identified as pond snails. So
far, the seem to be eating only algae, but they are laying a *LOT* of eggs.
I've been removing the eggs, but I'm sure that I must be missing some.

Are these guys going to overrun my tank and start eating the plants? At
first I thought that they were trumpet snails, but judging by the jelly like
eggs, they're pond snails. Different websites say that they are to be
avoided, and others say they'll stick to the algae. Any thoughts?

I've read that loaches will eat the snails, but my tank is a 30 gallon
community and I don't have any room to add loaches. Are there any small
peaceful fish that will eat snails?

Thanks in advance,
-tim



As long a they're just eating algae, leave them be. While I havn't
had good luck with pond snails I have heard of people that have. They
sound like they're working ok for you.


--
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Are these guys going to overrun my tank and start eating the plants?

IME, no. I have pond snails in my tank, and they don't eat the plants or
overrun the tank. They are great for algae control.

If they are laying that many eggs, you may be overfeeding the tank.

The best way to control snails is by controlling their food source. They won't
breed if they aren't well-fed, and usually, what they are eating is leftover
fish food.

If you don't want to reduce your feedings, you can keep the pond snail
population in check by getting other snails. Pomacea bridgesii, for example.
It's a large snail, and will out-compete the little pond snails for food. It's
much easier to control the breeding of this snail, because it takes two to
reproduce, and it lays its eggs above water (where they are easily spotted and
removed). When I added P. bridgesii to my tank, the pond snail population
crashed.



Leigh

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