Troublesome snails in tropical fish tank

[snodhutch]

I have a very serious snail problem in my tropical fish tank. I have tried chemical remedies which help temporarily and I have a Clown Loach who supposedly should be eating them. Sometimes the glass is so covered it obscures my view of the fish. Has anyone got any other ideas as I'm getting desperate now.

[B00]

Yep, i found the only sure fire way of getting rid of the little bu88ers is by literally getting them out with a net and throwing them away outside.

The usual suspects for them arriving in the first place is on plants newly introduced to your tank- this seem likely to you?

I know, fishing them out by hand sounds tedious, but I personally was very reluctant ot use chemicals in my tank and it's actually theraptutic as I had great (sadistic) pleasure in launching the little blighters over my garden wall.

[dot.haukes]

I agree with B00, I get them if I have brought in any new fish too, and so it is always hard to avoid them I guess, but they have a habit of making themselves obvious and so it's easy to scoop them off the glass.

[hammerman]

the clown loach should sort them Boo....anything with copper in will genrally be bad for any invertabrates...but that includes shrimps and copper based remedies do tend to be absorbed by rocks etc and slowly released over many years.
Good luck

[B00]

Hey Mr H!

Long time on see, how are you?

I agree the loach should take care of them,but it will take time, there's only so many he can eat at once unless he's getting too well fed, that could also be another factor why snodhutch has a massive snail problem. If the fish are overfed, the food will get left and they'll become snail fodder.

Still, I still stand by what I said, it really is theraputic launching 'em over a fence!

waves to dotty too- helloooo!

[Schutzengel]

Launching the tiny snails over a fence is great fun. I threw mine in the garden, and they grew, and grew. This was several years ago, and still have these enormous snails in the garden, and they are a lot more trouble to get rid of. :-(

[mrs.chappie]

Wish I could send my hedgehogs round. They'd soon get rid of 'em for you.

[paddywak]

I sympathise with you, snodhutch, I've a similar problem in my pond with Duckweed, pobably imported into the pond by a bird and its a B*****D to get rid off. My last chance is some Blagdons Duckweed Buster. If that fails it empty the pond and start again

[hammerman]

Hi Boo....very good thanks...and your good self ?

Been busy installing a new planted tank in the lounge but had to knock a few walls down etc to fit it in !!!!....here's some pics

http://www.theaquaticroom.com/forum/showthread .php?p=2399#post2399

Hope you can see the pics.

[B00]

Goegeous tank Mr H. Loving all the plants. I'm a bit of a disaster with plants i'm afraid, my fish, especially my shark seem to like them a little bit too much, and I end up with just stumps eventually :-(

[daginge]

Sorry to butt in on Snods post but that tank setup is amazing Hammerman!
And yes picking out snails individually is deffo the best way, as soon as you see one fling the blighter!

[snodhutch]

thanx everyone for your help. I have reduced the amount of food i give my fish and have been fishing the snails out and chucking them over the fence and my tank is looking much better now. still some way to go but getting there. thanx

[petguy]

gold fish!

[petguy]

I mean a gold fish will eat them.