OziOscar Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 Hello! I have about 50 of these little fellas in my 2' planted tank in the study. I was wondering if they're good, bad or other? I would like to know what they are called too. Cheers - OziOscar. EDIT: Fixed link to image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ducksta Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 If it is small (5mm ??) it looks like a Malaysian Trumpet Snail to me - there should be plenty of info if you look in the FAQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ged Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 I agree with Ducksta that it looks like a young Malaysian Trumpet Snail. The shell does not have the classic conical shape but I would put that down to it being small. As well as looking in the FAQ also have a look at Yew's website. There is a good article on snails. http://www.sydneycichlid.com/content/?page_id=119 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosco Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 If ducksta's right (and I think he is) then you are in for a infestation. The only way to get rid of them remove all the fish and to feed them copper sulphate then sterilise the tank and start again. I bought 1 plant from my LFS that I did not "cleanse" and now the little buggers infested 4 tanks I have cleaned 2 but they are still in 2 other tanks. The way they got into those tanks I have no idea perhaps I may have transferred a rock that one or two were on at the time. I am sure that there are less drastic ways of getting rid of them like clown loaches for example but I just am sick of hte sight of them. good luck cheers Rosco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ged Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 There was also a really good topic not so long ago on snail removal. That is if you are concerned about them. http://www.aceforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=17099 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OziOscar Posted August 20, 2005 Author Share Posted August 20, 2005 Here's a close up. Looks like the Malaysian identification was pretty much right. The top centimetre or so of the gravel seems to be nicely churned and pretty free of detritus. I think that they might get to stay a while and see how it goes. If it gets too crazy then it's Botia time. Thank you for your help everyone - greatly appreciated. Cheers - OziOscar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropheusQueen Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 If ducksta's right (and I think he is) then you are in for a infestation. Every water change day we collect half a small icecream container of snails from our tanks, crush them and feed them our loaches - who devour them with relish We have not yet gone the copper sulphate route due to too many cats Aline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 Do those guys get smashed by convicts like the round snails do? I know when you crush them & drop them in they don't hit the bottom - but will any fish eat them without being "fed" them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropheusQueen Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 Clown loaches love them and will hunt them down Unfortunately too many tanks and snails and not enough loaches at our place Aline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeW Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 Guys - Most snails can be IME controlled by careful feeding. Where not appropriate clown loaches will certain do them in . The worst thing about snails (IMHO) is they can get into (and damage) filter impellors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ducksta Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 I agree with Dave - control your feeding and the snails will stay in controlled numbers. The only tank I have had a snail 'problem' in is my fry tanks and bristlenose breeding tanks. Why? These are the tanks which get very heavily fed. Provided they do not do anything to the detriment of your setup (uproot plants, bust filter motors, eat your slow growing 15 yr old plants) they are probably actually being very beneficial, in controlling food waste. Sure they will eat it and produce waste but IMO decaying excess food is nastier. Although my experiences are based on small round snails (as yet unidentified?? Dave was looking for an ID recently) I think I would tolerate MTS equally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anchar Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 I am quite a fan of these snails...provided they are kept in check. I have about 60 clown loaches that are in groups of roughly 15. They are moved around my tanks on seek and destroy missions to prevent population explosions. Dropping a blanched piece of zucchini into the tank and carefully lifting it out after 15 minutes (with snails attached) will help reduce numbers too. Andrea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OziOscar Posted August 21, 2005 Author Share Posted August 21, 2005 I had a ramshorn snail outbreak on one of my tanks and the clown loaches did wonders. Now I'm vacuuming up little snail shells on every cleaning. I'm kinda tempted to introduce the Malaysians to that tank for some gravel churning, and a little dietary supplement for the clown loaches. However, the one with the Malaysians already in can stay as it is. I will just keep the feeding a little more controlled, despite it being about the only time I get to see my Kribs. What gets me is that the outbreaks occurred quite some months (ie >3) after introducing any plants or livestock. I really don't understand where they came from - either the ramshorns or the Malaysians. Cheers - OziOscar. EDIT: Added last pargraph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.