Hi Everyone. Ok, so here is my tank: If you look closely you will see allot of black dots and those are pest pond snails... I know they are good for your tank as they clean up the tank but they are still not welcome to the eye. So I want to get rid of them and want some advise from you guys but, the problem is that I also have allot of cherry shrimp... The following option that i found so far for possible solutions are... OPTION ONE: Get assassin snails, I already have 2 of them but they are killing slower than the breeding rate so, how many do i need and have any of you have a cheaper supplier for them, they are R70 at the shop? OPTION TWO: Dog dewormer that will kill the snails is like a myth as some say it will kill the snails and not the shrimp but nowhere do they say what is the exact measurement per liter and what exact product should i use? OPTION THREE: Get everything out of the tank wash plants and soil with bleach water for 10sec each and but it back in, test water till Ammonia and Nitrate is at 0 and put fish back in. Honestly this is my last option and i really don't want to do this, as my tank is very well established. NOT VIABLE OPTIONS: Snail trap or lettuce trap - will never work because what about the eggs? They lay eggs on a daily basis and if i miss one its back to ground zero. Copper solution - will also kill shrimp. Loaches and Puffers - will also kill shrimp. Really appreciate your advice.
Hi Jacques, I recently learnt the hard way that "No Planaria" kills snails too. I lost all my apple snails and a butt load of ramshorn snails.. Some guys have used it purely to rid their tanks of snails. Just follow the instructions on the packet. Some people recommend double dosing, but I'd rather use regular dosing to start off with and see how effective it is. No Planaria is shrimp safe so your cherry shrimp will be fine. I would recommend taking the assassin snails out first before you dose if you go this route. You can get it HERE Other option is to keep removing them manually before they mature and lay eggs.
Hi, there. Non related to topic, but that plant with the white patches is non aquatic. Commonly referred to as the Aluminum Plant (Pilea cadierei).
How often are you feeding your fish? I only feed them once every second day and my snail population stays under control.
Thank you for your advise, my fiance really wanted the plant wile my tank was already full so ill keep it for a while until it is starting to die then ill take it out. Once a day, and i know if you limit your feeding you can get them down but i rather want a method that will clean them out.
Also found this out the hard way! The no Planaria does wonders for planaria and snails, if you don't want them. However I did find that the snails died a slow death over a week or so. And then you have to remove the shells.
Nice looking tank. If you feed the shrimp a slither or two of blanched baby marrow, the snails will also move in on mass, it's then easy to net them. I attached the marrow to a weighted plastic cloths peg on a string and then haul the pesky molluscs ashore !
yeah that's the only downside, but at least you're stopping them from laying more eggs. easier to pick up shells than trying to find near invisible egg clusters. The shells are also a good source of calcium for the shrimp though.
Rotting snails are definitely not good for a shrimp tank so rather remove them alive than when rotting and save on the no planaria.. They are not exactly fast to catch . Its' all the small ones that are difficult to see which is the problem and the No planaria can help with. Many shrimpers recommend a low volume of snails in the tank to remove unwanted food and gunk.
From what I got while watching youtube vids is that there are only 3 loaches that will actually eat snails, Clown, Yoyo or pakistani and skunk loaches. The smallest one of the 3 is the Yoyo loach and it will maybe leave your shrimp while it's small but it will grow and at one point it will clean out all your shrimp on one night... It is very fast and shrimp stand no chance and babies are always a risk.
As Trevor said baby marrows or cucumber will slowly and safely do the job. No fish is 100% safe for shrimps.
