MTS Shell

[J-Aqua]

I am starting a new CA 75gal tank and I wanted to put a colony of MTS I have in a 10gal tank into the 75gal. The only thing I am worried about is my cichlids eating the MTS and not able to fully eat them due to the MTS shells? My pH is 7.5 so shell errosion wont be a problem. The species of CA are Herichthy Labridens Media Luna (F1). These guys naturally prey on snails in the wild. I know they wouldn't wipe my MTS colony completely out like a loach would do. They will have other means of a food source. It will be nice to see natural behavior of them searching for snails like they do in the wild. TIA

J

 

[ewurm]

I've never seen a cichlid eat an MTS, but I guess it's possible.

 

[Lupin]

MTS have very few predators in comparison to several other snails. Your signature states you have yoyo loaches. Do you still have the loaches? Yoyos can prove very versatile in eradicating the MTS especially as these have elongated snouts. MTS have very thick shells and they certainly can absorb calcium quicker than any snails can. If you notice the tips of the shells with white layer, the shells may be eroding so it would be a good idea to replenish the minerals with new water and then dose calcium by dropping plaster of Paris pucks or marble chips in the tank as a source of calcium. My apple snails along with the MTS and nerites get calcium pills, not just the broken eggshells often placed there, calcium enriched veggies and snail jello.