Is there any such thing as a plant safe snail?

[awault]

I would like to breed snails in a 10 gallon aquarium to feed to my clown loaches. Problem is I have some java fern that was devastated by my silver dollars and it is currently recovering in this aquarium. I am wondering which type of snail would reproduce quickly, but at the same time is not known to eat plants? Does such a snail exist?

Thanks

 

[Lupin]

There are plenty of snails that do not eat plants. Malaysian trumpets, ramshorns (Planorbis) and pond snails (Physas sp.) don't eat plants. They can be obtained by buying plants that carry eggs or juvenile snails. Snails that do not eat plants but can be bought are Pomacea bridgesii/diffusa. Shipping them state by state require permits. The rest of the apple snails though they are voracious plant eaters are banned.

 

[awault]

There are plenty of snails that do not eat plants. Malaysian trumpets, ramshorns (Planorbis) and pond snails (Physas sp.) don't eat plants. They can be obtained by buying plants that carry eggs or juvenile snails. Snails that do not eat plants but can be bought are Pomacea bridgesii/diffusa. Shipping them state by state require permits. The rest of the apple snails though they are voracious plant eaters are banned.

Thanks for the info

 

[msjinkzd]

pomacea bridgesii would work as feeders probably until they hit pea sized. Each clutch can produce from 50-200 baby snails.

 

[gomezladdams]

I just got some asolene spixi in.They are supposed to be non plant eaters.Nice size for larger loach snacks and they seem to breed alot faster than bridgsii.

 

[msjinkzd]

asolene spixi typically eat plants as juveniles. They are prolific however it takes longer for them to reach an "edible" size, lol

 

[awault]

If it weren't 20 degrees F in Madison I would ask if anyone would ship. I can't find any around here lately.

 

[msjinkzd]

most of us who ship inverts use foam lined boxes and heat packs.