Pond snails good or bad in this scenario

J

Jwoody

Medium Fish
#1
May 14, 2010
77
0
0
#1
Hello Everyone,
I had a question,
I recently set up a small ten gallon tank that I wanted to use for growing plants, and I was wondering if having pond snails in the tank would be a good thing or a bad thing, I have had a very big pond snail in there for a while and it doesn't seem to be eating the plants so that's a plus, but I imagine that they would keep the tank clean to a certain extent. But I was unsure if they would throw off the cycle? But as the tank is relatively new(a little less than a week) I would assume that the tank is not done cycling, so would putting pond snails in it now allow them to adjust to the cycle?? The only thing that I would be keeping in the tank is a fair amount of plants, two or three small Zebra Danio's, and maybe snails.

On a side note, how big or small of a filter is a good idea to use on this tank, right now I have a filter that is fitted for a 20 gallon and its like blowing the plants away, but would I need to filter this tank as much as opposed to a ten gallon with a lot of fish?? considering that its mostly plants and two small fish

Any help would be great!!!
 

Last edited:
skjl47

skjl47

Large Fish
#2
Nov 13, 2010
712
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0
Northeastern Tennessee.
#2
Hello; Not sure that any of my snails are pond snails, but some may be. Most are the ramshorn and some trumpet snails in a community tank. I have kept these snails in nearly all of my tanks for a long time. I also have been keeping fewer fish in some tanks with a lot of plants.
I feel that the snails do more good than harm. From time to time it appears that a larger snail will take some bites on my sword. The other plants are not bothered. It has not been much of a problem, as the bites are not major. When the snails get up to nickel size I put them in a tank with only floating hornwort.
The snails will feed on any excess food, dead leaves, dead fish and algae. They do not get all the algae, but do keep it in check. They produce waste and it seems likely that they contribute to the cycle in a tank the same as fish.

I have thrown some floating plants with snails into each newly set up tank and left them for around a week before putting one or two hardy fish many times. It may be that the snails start conditioning the water as a culture of beneficial bacteria should be on the shells and the plants. The life functions of snails should produce ammonia. (This seems like it ought to be correct, but I have not checked.)

If the snails ever become too numerous, I crush them with pliers and let the fish eat them. My fish get a snack of live food and have done well like this for a lot of years.

My vote is for the snails, with the exception of a bit of grazing possible on some plants. They add to a tank and are part of the natural aquatic environment.
 

J

Jwoody

Medium Fish
#3
May 14, 2010
77
0
0
#3
That's so much help thanks!

They came from petsmart lol so I'm assuming they wont hurt the fish. I just goggled it and the are probably ramshorn snails like yours, or at least they look a lot like it.
 

E

emma1981

Small Fish
#4
Mar 20, 2011
25
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#4
Dont blame the snails!!

Hi,
Snails are all good for any aquarium, if you want hardy snails you want the pond variety....they are blackish/brown half a pea size when full grown & dont eat plants but do multiply rapidly! You normally get them on your plants you buy from a pet store.
If their numbers become too much yes you can feed them to the fish, or sell them on ebay. (I do NOT condone crushing them with pliers!!) They are v. hardy too & should deal with a non or half cycled tank just fine & help with the cycling process.
Once your tank is in full working order you can think about Applesnails...they are great to watch & come in many beautiful colours. If you feed them on plec pellets & veg they wont eat your plants & will make a beautiful addition to your aquarium. They wont grow too big as they are not native to our climate & are fine in all aquariums except Marine. (any snail advice just ask as I breed them all)
 

F

Fishman1995

Superstar Fish
#5
May 11, 2010
1,341
0
0
North Carolina
#5
I have to concure, i have about 20 pond snails now in my 5.5 gallon (started with 5) and i had 6 live plants. Now they have eaten holes in the leafs and have even eaten the entire plant in half at the root union. Id suggest against them. They are more a pest than they are helpful. Id do a different species, not pond thou.
 

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