Snail control in a Ray tank ?

[Cool Mart]

Over the past three months the snail population in my Leo tank has exploded and I'm now looking for a solution.

I've been heavily feeding the rays in the hope of some breeding action but it appears the few snails that lived in the tank have enjoyed the additional nutrients and started reproducing at quite a rate.

There's always been a handful of tiny circular snails stuck to the glass but this is now hundreds ... and many more in the substrate.

I've never dosed any chemicals in the tank, prefering to rely on a good water change regime (and it's worked for six years) and I'd prefer to try a natural remedy, if there is one ?

What can you recommend ?

Mart

 

[Lupin]

1. Bait with lettuce.
2. Assassin snails. Never tried the combination with stingrays though.
3. Manual removal.
4. Cut back on feeding.

 

[Kevaldo]

how big are your Leo's now Mart? cos clown loach will do the trick but you need them big enough not to be eaten by the leo's

 

[severum1]

My rays love snails. They eat them. It's a snack

So the problem seems to be the heavy feeding. Don't feed to much for some days and the snails will disapeare.

 

[torres]

Haii Mart, can you take the snail picture for us hehe...

 

[mshuangchao]

You could put a few big cichlids in, they'll help finishing off the snails.

 

[skynoch]

Adding salt to the tank will kill them

 

[biggfish]

Some loaches and botias love to eat snails and may be fast enough to elude your rays for at least a little while. Bigger ones might even fair well as compatible tank mates.

 

[devder1]

buy a pair of geophagus theyll b gone in no time

 

[Cool Mart]

how big are your Leo's now Mart? cos clown loach will do the trick but you need them big enough not to be eaten by the leo's

The female is 14" now (and may well be carrying pups) so I couldn't see Clown Loaches or Geophagus lasting long. I wouldn't like to add anything to the water if the female is pregnant so salt is out (I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem but would you risk it after 6 years of no salt ?) Again with the female possibly pregnant I wouldn't like to cut back on the feeding for any length of time.

So, it looks like I'm down to manual removal ... great !

Thanks for the ideas guys