How do I get rid of snails? Or at least diminsh their numbers? Somehow the stupid things got in my tank and are an eye sore. What i've been doing is when I see them on the sides of the tank, I stick my hand in and smush them agaisnt the glass and their bodies fall to the gravel. Any other suggestions please. I was told once you got them, there's no getting rid of them.
How do I get rid of them??
- Thread starter jeep07
- Start date
Make a snail trap. Better yet, if possible with current inhabitants, get a gourami or any other fish that eats snails. That should get the job done. 
I think that you shouldn't smash them and let them fall to the ground. That just gives the snails more to eat. Try to cut down on the amount you feed your fish and just take out as many snails as you can find. I had that problem before and it was frustrating because snails multiply quickly and I kept finding snail eggs. Lucky it was a small tank and I transferred my fish to another set up. Then I just emptied out the old tank and let it dry to kill all the snails and their eggs. Hope this helps.
we used a grrenspotted puffer to rid the tank and then gave him his own tank (they dont make good tankmates with guppis and small fish) but he cleaned my 20 gal in about 30 min
Is it a planted tank or non-planted. Depending on the set-up, what you need to do is different.
If it's planted, the best way I have found, is to put the fish in buckets with air stones. Pull all of the plants out, and PP them, or wash them in a mild bleach solution (to kill eggs and manually remove any snails you see on the plants.) Then you empty ALL of the substrate, and start with fresh, new substrate and re-plant the plants.
If it's not a planted tank, things are much easier! Manual removal, and limiting the amount you feed (not over-feeding AT ALL, and even underfeeding just enough to sustain your fish.) Also, you can get some cute little yoyo loaches, they school together and are very good snail eaters, stay small, unlike clowns!
I recommend not starving them if you have plants, because they WILL eat your plants til they are D-E-D~>Dead! I had this problem with ramshorns, almost all of my plants were eaten to death because I "limited food" so they WILL eat whatever is available. If you don't provide extra food for them to eat, they will turn to your plants, they won't starve themselves.
You could also get yoyo loaches in a planted tank as well. They like playing in the leaves.
If it's planted, the best way I have found, is to put the fish in buckets with air stones. Pull all of the plants out, and PP them, or wash them in a mild bleach solution (to kill eggs and manually remove any snails you see on the plants.) Then you empty ALL of the substrate, and start with fresh, new substrate and re-plant the plants.
If it's not a planted tank, things are much easier! Manual removal, and limiting the amount you feed (not over-feeding AT ALL, and even underfeeding just enough to sustain your fish.) Also, you can get some cute little yoyo loaches, they school together and are very good snail eaters, stay small, unlike clowns!
I recommend not starving them if you have plants, because they WILL eat your plants til they are D-E-D~>Dead! I had this problem with ramshorns, almost all of my plants were eaten to death because I "limited food" so they WILL eat whatever is available. If you don't provide extra food for them to eat, they will turn to your plants, they won't starve themselves.
You could also get yoyo loaches in a planted tank as well. They like playing in the leaves.
Been there buddy. I had a clown loach, and he ate almost all of them. Also, when they came back, I took a small plate and turned it upside-down and sat it on the rocks. I put an algea disc on the middle overnight, and when I woke up in the morning they would all be on there and you could just lift the plate out.
Other options would include getting a puffer, or a couple assasin snails which feed off of other snails. Just the clown loach alone and doing a couple algea disc tries, I got rid of all of them. anything else, just grab them with your fingers!
Other options would include getting a puffer, or a couple assasin snails which feed off of other snails. Just the clown loach alone and doing a couple algea disc tries, I got rid of all of them. anything else, just grab them with your fingers!
I think the hardest part is getting rid of the eggs. At least you can see the snails but their eggs are in clear gelatin sacs and you have to look very carefully because the can be anywhere. Good luck, The Doctor.