Introducing Pond Snails

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Wulfonce

Gambusia
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2009
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Ontario
I'm planning a 125g planted tank. I already have 8 Clown Loaches at about 2-2.5" in length, that will be going in the tank. I was thinking of adding pond snails into the tank to provide a constant food sourse for the CL's but do to some bad experiences with pond snails in the past (breeding out of control) I'm a little hesitant to add them.

I went to my local big al's and asked if 8 CL's would be able to keep the snail population in check and was told that the snails will quickly be eaten until they disappear totally. I have a really hard time believing this.

Any thoughts?
 
Yep thats right. The snails wont be able to breed quick enough for the loaches. If you want to feed them snails, breed them in another tank and every so often scoop out a handful for the CLs.
 
moo.;4382973; said:
Yep thats right. The snails wont be able to breed quick enough for the loaches. If you want to feed them snails, breed them in another tank and every so often scoop out a handful for the CLs.
Click to expand...

Excellent idea. Do snails require light? Actually now that I think about it, what do snails eat?
 
I dont think they require much at all lol. Ive had some that bred in a bucket i forgot to empty haha.
Just feed them a pinch of flakes or a couple of pellets every few days.
 
Yeah you can just keep them in any container with water. I use an unheated, unfiltered 10g or a 2g bucket to keep snails. lol

The only pain is having to clean up all those shells in the tank after months of feeding them snails.
 
Yup, the shells do start to pile up! I agree with breeding the snails in a seperate tank. I have a 30g that I use for breeding, but every time I clean the loach tank's filters I still find snail eggs... I cannot say I've ever seen one make it out of the filter into that tank though. SLURP'd immediately.
 
If your water is soft and acidic, there won't be too many shells to pick up.;)
 
Wasn't suggesting to alter your water chemistry. Just saying that it actually does erode the shells to nothingness.
 
I had some mts snails in a 125 gl. tank with 8 3-4" loaches there were enough of them that were in the substrate that there was always a constant supply. Ramshorn or pond snails are a different story they get eaten up right away.
 
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