Snail machine floating in tank?

[knifegill]

If I take an otherwise sealed container, drill tiny holes all over it and load it with a few large adult pond snails, will I have an in-tank snail factory? I know I'd have to put food inside the container and probably lift it out to clean it, so I would leave the lower third of it solid. The holes should allow for gas exchange, etc. Am I missing any part of this puzzle? Has anyone else used a feeder box like this before? Any reason not to?

 

[BRUNER247]

IMO pond snails aren't a good idea. Who knows what chemicals leached into the pond or what parasites they have.

 

[knifegill]

They're my snails. Fifth or sixth generation.

 

[JakeH]

My pond snails would breed in an old tire if I dropped food in it! Try it & let us know how it goes. I might try it for my Ramshorns... If flotation is an issue, I used some "Plastic Pellets for craft & doll making" from the hobby store to make a floating ceiling for a rooting chamber in one of my planter boxes. It works great & looks better than styrofoam.

 

[knifegill]

Thanks for the floating tip. I think I'll probably just let it get stuck somewhere in the current, though. The snails won't know the difference.

 

[knifegill]

I put the bottle in, watched it sink to the bottom, and wondered what the little alarms ringing in my head were about. Then your advice about floating hit me about ten minutes later and I remembered snails have lungs. So I flew down the stairs saw that the snails were fine, and clipped the bottle to the edge of the tank so they could breathe at the top. Here's a few pics, not that it's much to rave about or anything.

 

[knifegill]

Update: Works like magic. Put it in the green sunfish tank and he eats the babies. Change the carrot when it disappears. Perfect.

 

[szymon328]

ahha nice!!! that looks so easy

 

[BigO6687]

the guys on the puffer section will love this

 

[knifegill]

I linked it.