Freshwater Snails?

[Sandwich]

Well now that I'm getting a nice healthy amount of algae growing, I am thinking of getting some cleaning organisms. I wanted to go with a Pleco, but I know they get relatively big, taking up aquarium space.

^ That, and Im afraid they might starve, as my tank isnt lined with algae.


So, im considering getting a family of snails instead. What breed/type should I get? Or should I stick with a pleco?
Is there such thing as a "pygmy pleco?

Sorry about all the questions.

PS:I heard snails could spawn like rabbits.Is this true? If so, is there a way I can control their growth without having to kill them?

 

[unwritten law]

what size tank do you have?.. What else is in there?

 

[89must]

they do have food for plecos algea waffers so he wont starve if you decide to go with a pleco but you do need a decent size tank

 

[Sandwich]

29 gallon tank, four .75' tetras.

 

[unwritten law]

The are a variety of smaller plaecos if you can find them. One is a bristle nosed pleco or bushy nosed pleco.... that one si pretty popular but there are also rubber lips, clown, and a few others that could do fine in a 29 gallon. I don't really think snails are a good idea for algae control... If you can't get a smaller pleco look for ottos or Otocinclus Catfish, they only get to a bout 2 inches tops and you can get a small army of them.

 

[TMony]

Snails aren't really effective for algae control unless you have a lot of them. (and I don't know many who want a tank full of snails) Even with several snails, they don't clean up an entire area. They move around eating a little here and a little there. It can be fun to have one in the tank, (as long as it is not A-sexual) If you have a male and female or an A-sexual species, you will have a tank load of snails fairly quickly in most cases.

 

[Sandwich]

@Tmony:

They can be asexual?! Oh god. Those Otocinclus catfish sound like a very good idea. Thanks

 

[brian1973]

There is a species of snail that can live in freshwater and lay eggs but the eggs will not hatch unless they are in a brackish or salwater environment. I will find out what kind of snails and repost or edit with the link.

Found the link..they are called olive nerite snails. Aquarium Plants, Pond Plants, Freshwater Aquarium Plant & Aquarium Accessories – Arizona Aquatic Gardens

 

[TMony]

They are interesting little critters. Some require a male and female and some are A-sexual. Some have live birth and others lay eggs. The most common ones tend to be pond snails that hitch a ride on your live plants from the store. They are hermaphroditic egg-layers that breed very fast

 

[unwritten law]

I got at least one pod snail from my plants in my new tank.... I dont mind it because I think they will be killed off by the ammonia from cycling soon.

 

[Violet]

I find an army of oto cats quite effective, and cute. Just remember you need to leave room for them like any other fish. As for snails, I have been lucky, except for once when I was young, I have never been overrun by them. I have various larger snails as well as a bunch of Malaysian Trumpet Snails who live in the gravel and get a lot of the ook out of the gravel. Sometimes it's a little creepy as it makes the gravel look like it's moving on it's own.

 

[Michaelh218]

I'm sorry, I don't remember where I read it, but from what I understand if you put some live plants in there it will help keep your algae down. They will outcompete the algae for nutrients or some such.

I have several plants in my 37 gal (had a lot more but my cichlid is a pain in the butt) and the only algae I've had is the little bit on the glass but no where near what I would call "problem levels"

I have also read that usually animals like snails and plecostomus (sp) are really not all that great for keeping algae down but still fun to have. I have a black snail and a white snail that I got from Petsmart haven't had them that long but so far no breeding.

 

[mistercoffee]

My expereince with Oto's is that they aren't too great keeping down the algae. Although I just had 1 in each tank... with lots of plants... and I always have a little algae. I read on here sometime ago, or maybe on plantedtank that Oto's are often picky about algae and only eat certain kinds.

 

[emmanuelchavez]

I got at least one pod snail from my plants in my new tank.... I dont mind it because I think they will be killed off by the ammonia from cycling soon.

Not too sure about that last part... I've had pond snails survive in my tanks when I first started the cycle with ammonia up to 8ppm.
I also have quite a few in my 100g, where the ammonia is currently 4ppm.





Otos are better known for eating diatoms, and some soft algae. Plecos apparently do a better job, but are messier and bigger. Snails aren't great at keeping algae at bay either, but my one mystery snail in my 5g has done a rather decent job.