• You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up

Self inflicted snail explosion...

LancsRick

LancsRick

Member
Joined
18 Apr 2012
Messages
683
Ok, so I got some red ramshorns for my Fluval Edge tank since I thought they'd be a good invert solution to algae control... I may have caused myself a problem here.

My 23l tank is now teeming with red ramshorns, (also some speckled/spotted ramshorns?!) and there are "egg patches" absolutely all over the show, on plants and on glass. Is there any way to stop these guys multiplying at such a massive rate, or am I going to be into some sort of weekly egg hunt?
 
Assassin snails...

Nerites are great for algae eating and if memory serves they can't breed in freshwater, however they do like to lay eggs on wood.
 
nry said:
Assassin snails...

Nerites are great for algae eating and if memory serves they can't breed in freshwater, however they do like to lay eggs on wood.
Click to expand...

and rock and equipment in my experience!
 
I used about 10 assassins in my 200 litre as my tank was teeming with MTS and I mean every piece of glass decor plant etc was completely covered.
I didn't see any difference in MTS numbers for a months and then gradually they all seemed to disappear, i didn't realise at the time but they were breeding, I now have about 50+ and rarely if ever see an MTS snail, I only ever find the occasional shell.
I now have the problem of finding pest snails for them eat tho. : (
So not a perfect solution or fast by any means but they do work, they are nice to look at and cause no problems, with fish or shrimp, they will eat dead fish or shrimp tho.
PS Assassins are very very slow breeders.
 
ASSASSINS +1 No doubt they do exactly what it says on the box. I actually thought they would only get snails that were smaller than themselves and that my larger red rams would be safe but they b4stards even got them too
 
Porksword said:
I used about 10 assassins in my 200 litre as my tank was teeming with MTS and I mean every piece of glass decor plant etc was completely covered.
I didn't see any difference in MTS numbers for a months and then gradually they all seemed to disappear, i didn't realise at the time but they were breeding, I now have about 50+ and rarely if ever see an MTS snail, I only ever find the occasional shell.
I now have the problem of finding pest snails for them eat tho. : (
So not a perfect solution or fast by any means but they do work, they are nice to look at and cause no problems, with fish or shrimp, they will eat dead fish or shrimp tho.
PS Assassins are very very slow breeders.
Click to expand...

I am in the similar situation - I got 4 assassins couple of months ago to clear my 60l of pest snails and they did a brilliant job. I hardly have any pest snails left and assassins have started breeding albeit at a slower rate. I am now struggling to feed my assassins.
 
Will they ONLY eat snails then ? I thought they ate all the crap left around too ?
 
Antipofish said:
Will they ONLY eat snails then ? I thought they ate all the crap left around too ?
Click to expand...

I believe they need high protein diet - other snails or blood worms etc but not your normal leftover fish food.
 
I might introduce one assassin snail and see if that establishes an equilibrium, thanks!
 
Antipofish said:
Will they ONLY eat snails then ? I thought they ate all the crap left around too ?
Click to expand...

Been a while since I logged in, but to answer Anti, the assassins will eat snails, leftover frosen or live food(bloodworms etc), they will also go for any dead fish or shrimp.
I've never seen them go for and algae pellet or flake tho, not that i would leave either in the tank for enough to find out mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top