Sterile Snails?

johnpeezy · 05-24-2008, 09:11 PM

Okay.

So I thought pond snails and ramshorns were supposed to be SEX MACHINES

so why is it my tank has like 6 snails left out of like 50 (9 barbs, 1 clown pleco, 2 botia straita) We origionally had them in the betta tank and due to casualties my girlfriend and I decided it would be safer for the snails in the tank where there natural predators are in.

Any ideas on how we can make snail babies??

joephys · 05-24-2008, 09:18 PM

There are probably more than you realize, and you are probably feeding your fish a proper amount.

To get more snails, feed more (not really recommended) or get rid of the loaches. (although, I have never seen my zebra loaches eat a snail

)

Trixie · 05-24-2008, 09:26 PM

Yeah, my yoyo loach prefers to pass on the escargot as well.

johnpeezy · 05-24-2008, 09:29 PM

I have a hard time catching them in the act but I have seen the botias eat the snails. maybe they are just doing to good of a job. we just thought that having more of them for them to eat would be good/fun for them. Oh well, can't complain too much for not having a problem with having too many like so many other people.

RTR · 05-25-2008, 06:49 AM

Co-housing predators and prey in captivity does not work very often, rarely in fact.

Trixie · 05-25-2008, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTR

Co-housing predators and prey in captivity does not work very often, rarely in fact.

*Note to self: Remember this.

DaisyTattoo · 05-25-2008, 01:25 PM

I have seen my zebras attempt to eat a full grown cana, so I'm sure they will happily snack on the tiny ones.

johnpeezy · 05-25-2008, 09:14 PM

We did have the snails in with the betta for a little while but he was eating a few of them too, and they didn't seem to proliforate in there either. was that because of the temp (between 70-80 deg F)? we did feed them alge waffers becasue there really wasn't much in there for them to eat.

.......and then the betta ate TIMMAH!!!

DaisyTattoo · 05-26-2008, 08:43 AM

If this is a new tank setup, any trace ammonia amounts could kill of the snails as they are pretty sensitive to it. Also, my snails don't breed all the time and I have a 55 full of em. Usually they tend to "do the deed" after a big waterchange.

johnpeezy · 05-26-2008, 11:14 AM

The tank that they are in has been up for 9 weeks or so, we have been just doing littler water changes so next time we wil try a bigger one.

sarcare · 05-26-2008, 01:05 PM

My loachies ate all my snails in that tank in days--I didn't mind as they are cute little piggies. But I don't have any problem with snails or loaches, just that the two don't do so well together.

RTR · 05-27-2008, 06:47 AM

Actually, IME, the pest snails (common pond and common ramshorns) seem completely untroubled by ammonia or nitrite. They can be used to cycle a tank if you have enough of them. I have not tried with MTS, so don't know about them.

sarcare · 05-27-2008, 11:45 AM

The most humorous fish snail interaction I've experienced is my multis and snails. They will pick the snails up and toss them across the tank. The multis are pretty small, but they can pick up snails twice their sizes and move them. It doesn't really harm the snails, but is humorous to watch.

05-24-2008, 09:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
johnpeezy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 349	Sterile Snails? Okay. So I thought pond snails and ramshorns were supposed to be SEX MACHINES so why is it my tank has like 6 snails left out of like 50 (9 barbs, 1 clown pleco, 2 botia straita) We origionally had them in the betta tank and due to casualties my girlfriend and I decided it would be safer for the snails in the tank where there natural predators are in. Any ideas on how we can make snail babies??

05-24-2008, 09:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Trixie Meow. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,370	Yeah, my yoyo loach prefers to pass on the escargot as well. __________________

05-25-2008, 06:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
RTR RTR Join Date: May 2006 Location: Exurban MD, USA Posts: 838	Co-housing predators and prey in captivity does not work very often, rarely in fact. __________________ Where's the fish? - Neptune

05-25-2008, 01:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
DaisyTattoo It's a girl Join Date: May 2006 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 3,032	I have seen my zebras attempt to eat a full grown cana, so I'm sure they will happily snack on the tiny ones. __________________ It's not easy being a mother. If it were, fathers would do it.

05-25-2008, 09:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
johnpeezy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 349	We did have the snails in with the betta for a little while but he was eating a few of them too, and they didn't seem to proliforate in there either. was that because of the temp (between 70-80 deg F)? we did feed them alge waffers becasue there really wasn't much in there for them to eat. .......and then the betta ate TIMMAH!!! Last edited by johnpeezy : 05-25-2008 at 10:11 PM. Reason: R.I.P. TIMMAH!!! 5-24-08

05-24-2008, 09:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,378	There are probably more than you realize, and you are probably feeding your fish a proper amount. To get more snails, feed more (not really recommended) or get rid of the loaches. (although, I have never seen my zebra loaches eat a snail )

05-24-2008, 09:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnpeezy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 349	I have a hard time catching them in the act but I have seen the botias eat the snails. maybe they are just doing to good of a job. we just thought that having more of them for them to eat would be good/fun for them. Oh well, can't complain too much for not having a problem with having too many like so many other people.

05-26-2008, 08:43 AM	#9 (permalink)
DaisyTattoo It's a girl Join Date: May 2006 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 3,032	If this is a new tank setup, any trace ammonia amounts could kill of the snails as they are pretty sensitive to it. Also, my snails don't breed all the time and I have a 55 full of em. Usually they tend to "do the deed" after a big waterchange. __________________ It's not easy being a mother. If it were, fathers would do it.

05-26-2008, 11:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
johnpeezy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 349	The tank that they are in has been up for 9 weeks or so, we have been just doing littler water changes so next time we wil try a bigger one.

05-26-2008, 01:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
sarcare Lost and Confused Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,904	My loachies ate all my snails in that tank in days--I didn't mind as they are cute little piggies. But I don't have any problem with snails or loaches, just that the two don't do so well together. __________________ Reality--go 'way!

05-27-2008, 06:47 AM	#12 (permalink)
RTR RTR Join Date: May 2006 Location: Exurban MD, USA Posts: 838	Actually, IME, the pest snails (common pond and common ramshorns) seem completely untroubled by ammonia or nitrite. They can be used to cycle a tank if you have enough of them. I have not tried with MTS, so don't know about them. __________________ Where's the fish? - Neptune

05-27-2008, 11:45 AM	#13 (permalink)
sarcare Lost and Confused Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,904	The most humorous fish snail interaction I've experienced is my multis and snails. They will pick the snails up and toss them across the tank. The multis are pretty small, but they can pick up snails twice their sizes and move them. It doesn't really harm the snails, but is humorous to watch. __________________ Reality--go 'way!

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