Snails in the aquarium: welcome enrichment or annoying pests?
In addition to fish, snails can also be kept in the aquarium. These invertebrates are available in eye-catching colors and can contribute to an appealing appearance of the tank.
However, snails are not always desired in the aquarium and can even become a true nuisance.
In the following, you will learn everything you need to know about snails in the aquarium. You will get to know popular species and we will explain how to prevent excessive proliferation of these creatures.
Snails as Beneficial Aquarium Inhabitants
Just like in nature, snails can be very beneficial in aquariums. They not only contribute to the diversity in the tank but also help keep the aquarium clean, reducing maintenance efforts.
This is primarily due to the feeding habits of snails. These mollusks eat leftover food, algae, decaying parts of aquatic plants, and even dead fish that may go unnoticed by the aquarium owner.
Living plants in the aquarium are generally spared by most snails. Therefore, you usually don't have to worry about the arrangement of the tank being destroyed by these creatures.
Which Snails Can Be Kept in the Aquarium?
As much as snails are disliked by gardeners, they are also popular among many aquarists who consider them a welcome addition to their aquarium.
There are several snail species suitable for aquarium keeping, some of which are visually appealing. Popular choices include pond snails, ramshorn snails, trumpet snails, malaysian trumpet snails, nerite snails, and apple snails.
The suitability of snail species for your aquarium primarily depends on the tank and the conditions within it. While snails are often very resilient and adaptable, it is essential to provide them with appropriate conditions for their well-being.
Controlling Algae in the Aquarium with Snails
Many aquarists rely on snails when they want to combat algae in their aquarium. To a certain extent, this can be effective since algae are often a preferred food source for many snails.
However, snails alone usually cannot completely eradicate a severe algae infestation. They can serve as a supportive measure, but additional maintenance actions are usually necessary despite having snails in the aquarium.
How Snails Enter the Aquarium Unnoticed
When deciding to keep snails in your aquarium, you intentionally introduce them to the tank. However, snails can also enter the tank unnoticed, even when it's not desired.
Most commonly, this happens through introduced aquatic plants. Snail eggs or snails themselves often attach to the plants and enter the aquarium during planting.
Dealing with Snails in the Aquarium
If snails have settled in your aquarium and you want to get rid of them, there are several measures you can take. The simplest method is manually removing the snails by hand, effectively eliminating the unwanted inhabitants from the tank.
This method works particularly well when the snail population is still manageable. With a little patience, collecting the snails should not be an insurmountable problem since snails are not known for their speed.
Additionally, introducing predatory snails that feed on their own kind can help control the snail population in the aquarium. However, it is advisable to avoid fish that eat snails, as they may not only consume the snails but also harm other fish in the aquarium.
Limiting the Number of Snails in the Aquarium
In most cases, snails in the aquarium become a problem only when they proliferate uncontrollably, leading to an excessively large population.
To prevent this, it is important to understand and avoid the causes of excessive snail reproduction. In general, you can assume that snails in your aquarium will reproduce significantly only if there is an abundant food supply available to them.
Since snails feed on leftover fish food, it is important to avoid overfeeding your fish. Additionally, maintaining the aquarium properly by keeping it clean and promptly removing large amounts of dead plants or deceased animals contributes significantly to keeping the number of snails in check.
Not All Snails Can Reproduce in the Aquarium
If you consciously choose to keep snails in your aquarium but still want to prevent their reproduction, you can select snail species that cannot reproduce in the aquarium. This is the case, for example, with Malaysian trumpet snails. Due to the development cycle of snail larvae, breeding is generally not possible, preventing an increase in the number of snails.
Snails in the Aquarium - Our Conclusion
As you can see, snails in the aquarium can generally be beneficial. However, this does not mean that they cannot become a problem.
This is especially the case when snails in the aquarium reproduce rapidly or when they unintentionally enter the tank through other means.
To combat snails in your aquarium, you can either manually remove them or rely on predatory snails to do the job. However, it is advisable to avoid using chemical treatments for snail control due to the associated risks to other aquatic inhabitants.
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