Snail infestation in my brackish tank

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K

KailaJune

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 11, 2011
22
0
0
Oregon
Hi everyone,
I've had a severe snail infestation in my 125 gallon brackish tank for a couple years now. Loaches work great when it comes to getting rid of these guys in my freshwater tank, however I haven't had any luck with them in my brackish tank, as my Columbian Sharks just eat the loaches. I tried Assassin Snails, which also seemed to help in my freshwater tank, however the snails that have infested the tank ganged up on, attacked and killed them, not the other way around.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!
- K


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Feed less. It's that simple.

Increases in snail populations are not infestations. They are Nature's response to over-abundant food. They're your clean-up crew and you should be grateful. If the snails didn't multiply and clean up the mess you're making by wasting food, it would all rot on the bottom of your tank and your fish would go belly up in no time.

Reduce the food available to them, and you will effectively control their numbers.

It's an ecosystem in your hands.
Good luck, balance needs time, but the biodiversity is worth it. Every creature has a purpose.


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Thanks for the response, however, I'm not over feeding my fish, nor are they leaving any food behind during feedings. The tank is cleaned every two weeks as well. It looks like I'll be setting up my old 55 gallon, transferring my catfish to this, buying green spotted puffers, which are apparently the only way to effectively get rid of the MTS, then swapping the puffers into the 55 gallon and my cats back into the 125 gallon. The snails are abundant and unsightly. The benefits they are capable of contributing to the tank are not worth the ugliness. While these benefits can also be obtained via other means.

Anyone who actually has advice about GETTING RID OF the MTS in a different manner, I would love to hear from. Thanks.


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Kaila, sorry but they are correct. What do you think the MTS are eating. Sand? Water? They are eating leftover fish food.

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Sounds like you've got a good idea with the puffers. We kept one for quite a while and he absolutely LOVED snails. In fact, we kept a separate tank just for breeding snails to feed him. Plus, if you like brackish water fish, puffers have wonderful personalities. Also, I was curious as to how big your cats are now? Contrary to what everyone else is saying, I think it is natural for you to have quite a bit of waste in your tank at times. Even if you are keeping up with water changes and feeding less, large catfish can be messy eaters. I wish you the best of luck.
 
You can also kill them off with copper sulfate (might need extended treatment for MTS).
Just boost your biofiltration. Your current filter might become overwhelmed with the biomatter that'll no longer be eaten by your snails.


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If they get out of hand in my tank, I bait with fish food or a piece of shrimp in a covered area, then scoop them out by the net full.

They truly are handy in my sand-bottomed brackish tank, churning the sand by day, hidden, then coming out and vacuuming the floor every night.
 
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