Snail or no snail

HeathDus9 · 10-05-2009, 10:32 PM

I have a freshwater tank 20 gallon right now its in it's cycling process, but later on I was thinking of getting a snail or two.. I was wondering if anyone has any info about them that could help me out, if i get snails would i still need a pleco , and how many would I need, what different types are good, i dont want to ask the associates at my local petco, they kind of.. well.. just arnt helpful. I cant really find out much on google either suprisingly, anywho, any info would be much appreciated, im new to the tank life. lol thanks!!

mattmctyre · 10-06-2009, 05:17 AM

i would say no snail i made thaat mistake and they breed and grow so fast 1 or two might turn in to 100. serioulsly if you have an algea problem get a pleco or two they will actually let you see the inside of your tank.

jingles · 10-06-2009, 10:59 AM

This site has some good info on snails Aqualand Pets Plus . Like mattmctre said be careful though. Just make sure you know what type of snail you want because some grow baseball sized, some reproduce like crazy, and some eat other snails.
As for whether or not you'll need a pleco, it depends on what you want them to do. If you want there to be no algae in your tank then yea I'd get a pleco, some corys, or an oto. If your just looking for a clean up crew then snails will do just fine.

OrangeCones · 10-06-2009, 07:22 PM

If you don't overfeed, you won't have an explosion in snail populations. If you can't help but overfeed, and don't want a ton of snails, the nerite snail can't reproduce in freshwater, so can't overpopulate your tank.

HeathDus9 · 10-07-2009, 12:31 PM

Cool thanks, yeah i think No snail, i dont want a thousand or a baseball sized one in my tank lol. I think a pleco is better for my setup. I just seen them at the pet store and thought they looked neat.

jingles · 10-07-2009, 01:54 PM

don't get a common pleco they get huge.

Brandiwine · 10-07-2009, 05:18 PM

Just another FYI on the snails...Most snails will eat plants. So if you have any live plants you like you can say bye-bye

I've had too many snail outbreaks. Don't care for any in my tank (40gal). Also for the plant lovers make sure when you buy them wash them before you put them in your tank. Chances are...there are snails on them.

nikcasper · 10-08-2009, 08:53 AM

Is your 20 gallon by the light or a window? And what other fish do you plan on putting in the tank?

but apple snails arent bad if you get one, the need a male n female to reproduce so with one you should be safe. And i dont think the algae build up is gonna be to bad anyways so a snail would probally be better

HeathDus9 · 10-08-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikcasper

Is your 20 gallon by the light or a window? And what other fish do you plan on putting in the tank?

but apple snails arent bad if you get one, the need a male n female to reproduce so with one you should be safe. And i dont think the algae build up is gonna be to bad anyways so a snail would probally be better

No my tank isnt near a window, i just plan on making it all cichlids, i have two now after the tank cycles if these two last then were getting a few more. The other day we got a pleco because we read that it would be okay, and now its being nipped at.. if this dont work out then maybe we will try the snails.
My afr cic wont leave him alone so we might have to take him out, he seems to be letting up a lil now cause the pleco swam at him lol.

nikcasper · 10-08-2009, 10:58 PM

also be careful of how many cichlids you get in there, read up on their mature size. you could run into a few problems if you overstock the tank.

10-05-2009, 10:32 PM	#1
HeathDus9 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 29	Snail or no snail I have a freshwater tank 20 gallon right now its in it's cycling process, but later on I was thinking of getting a snail or two.. I was wondering if anyone has any info about them that could help me out, if i get snails would i still need a pleco , and how many would I need, what different types are good, i dont want to ask the associates at my local petco, they kind of.. well.. just arnt helpful. I cant really find out much on google either suprisingly, anywho, any info would be much appreciated, im new to the tank life. lol thanks!! __________________

10-06-2009, 05:17 AM	#2
mattmctyre Little Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 133	i would say no snail i made thaat mistake and they breed and grow so fast 1 or two might turn in to 100. serioulsly if you have an algea problem get a pleco or two they will actually let you see the inside of your tank. __________________ 40 gallon tank... 2 gold dust mollys 4 giant danios 2 swordtail kois 2 red swordtails 2 platys 1 common pleco 2 lyretail mollies. 3 hatchel fish and 5 ghost shrimp

10-06-2009, 10:59 AM	#3
jingles Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Auburn, AL Posts: 76	This site has some good info on snails Aqualand Pets Plus . Like mattmctre said be careful though. Just make sure you know what type of snail you want because some grow baseball sized, some reproduce like crazy, and some eat other snails. As for whether or not you'll need a pleco, it depends on what you want them to do. If you want there to be no algae in your tank then yea I'd get a pleco, some corys, or an oto. If your just looking for a clean up crew then snails will do just fine. __________________ 29g-Female Betta(CT), BN Pleco, ABN Pleco, Blue Crayfish, 6 Serpae Tetras, 3 Pristella Tetras, 3 Otos(Amazon Sword, Cabomba, Java Moss, Marino Ball, Red Ludwiga) 10g-Male Betta, Snails(Cambomba, Marino Ball, Red Mangrove, Red Ludwigia)

10-07-2009, 12:31 PM	#5
HeathDus9 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 29	Cool thanks, yeah i think No snail, i dont want a thousand or a baseball sized one in my tank lol. I think a pleco is better for my setup. I just seen them at the pet store and thought they looked neat. __________________

10-07-2009, 01:54 PM	#6
jingles Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Auburn, AL Posts: 76	don't get a common pleco they get huge. __________________ 29g-Female Betta(CT), BN Pleco, ABN Pleco, Blue Crayfish, 6 Serpae Tetras, 3 Pristella Tetras, 3 Otos(Amazon Sword, Cabomba, Java Moss, Marino Ball, Red Ludwiga) 10g-Male Betta, Snails(Cambomba, Marino Ball, Red Mangrove, Red Ludwigia)

10-06-2009, 07:22 PM	#4
OrangeCones Large Fish Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA Posts: 983	If you don't overfeed, you won't have an explosion in snail populations. If you can't help but overfeed, and don't want a ton of snails, the nerite snail can't reproduce in freshwater, so can't overpopulate your tank.

10-07-2009, 05:18 PM	#7
Brandiwine Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1	Just another FYI on the snails...Most snails will eat plants. So if you have any live plants you like you can say bye-bye I've had too many snail outbreaks. Don't care for any in my tank (40gal). Also for the plant lovers make sure when you buy them wash them before you put them in your tank. Chances are...there are snails on them. Last edited by Brandiwine; 10-07-2009 at 05:19 PM.. Reason: grammar

10-08-2009, 08:53 AM	#8
nikcasper Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 71	Is your 20 gallon by the light or a window? And what other fish do you plan on putting in the tank? but apple snails arent bad if you get one, the need a male n female to reproduce so with one you should be safe. And i dont think the algae build up is gonna be to bad anyways so a snail would probally be better __________________ 90 gallon fw tank-live bamboo+anubias 1 albino oscar, 1 tiger oscar, pink convict, 1 black striped convict,2 regular pleco, red tailed shark, a jack dempsey,, green spotted pufferfish, snakeskin gourami, and a apple snail

10-08-2009, 10:58 PM	#10
nikcasper Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 71	also be careful of how many cichlids you get in there, read up on their mature size. you could run into a few problems if you overstock the tank. __________________ 90 gallon fw tank-live bamboo+anubias 1 albino oscar, 1 tiger oscar, pink convict, 1 black striped convict,2 regular pleco, red tailed shark, a jack dempsey,, green spotted pufferfish, snakeskin gourami, and a apple snail