Non-plant eating snails?

flynngriff · 03-14-2005, 08:26 AM

Anybody know of a variety of snail that won't eat live plants? I'm setting up a betta tank and I want to plant it, but it won't be large enough for any other type of algae eater.

Thanks!

**Fishfirst** · 03-14-2005, 08:41 AM

Some common ramshorn snails won't eat healthy plants. But will often feed on dying or struggling ones.

DJ · 03-14-2005, 04:05 PM

you could just get apple snails,,, "Prefers dead and rotting plants and artificial foods like fish food; doesn't eat healthy plants unless no other food is available. This makes the Pomacea bridgesii snail a good choice for planted aquaria." - www.applesnail.net -

DJ · 03-14-2005, 04:08 PM

at walmart- golden mysteries

shev · 03-14-2005, 04:54 PM

Malaysian trumpet snails.

**Damon** · 03-14-2005, 05:07 PM

All good choices and all are effective. Note than the mystery snail is in the same family as the apple snail. Some think they are the same. MTS are heavy breeders and can overrun a tank in a week or 2 unless kept in check.

flynngriff · 03-14-2005, 06:02 PM

Thanks everybody!

MyraVan · 03-15-2005, 06:01 AM

P. bridgesii (non-plant-eating apple snails) are quite cool, but are not the best at eating algae. For that you want a nerite snail, see the bottom of this page:
http://www.applesnail.net/content/snails_various.php
I have a little tank with one P. bridgesii and one nerite. The applle snail prefers to eat fish food, but the nerite spends all his time roaming the glass with his teeth going. So the nerite wins for algae control, but the apple snail is much more interesting to watch, as he comes a good way out of his shell, and waves his long antennae around. The nerite stays pretty much under his shell.

Warning, though, some bettas will try to eat snails. It depends on the personality of the fish.

03-14-2005, 08:26 AM	#1
flynngriff Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 34 Posts: 443	Non-plant eating snails? Anybody know of a variety of snail that won't eat live plants? I'm setting up a betta tank and I want to plant it, but it won't be large enough for any other type of algae eater. Thanks!

03-14-2005, 08:41 AM	#2
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Soon to be Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,506	Some common ramshorn snails won't eat healthy plants. But will often feed on dying or struggling ones. __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

03-14-2005, 04:54 PM	#5
shev Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Montana Age: 19 Posts: 1,561	Re: Non-plant eating snails? Malaysian trumpet snails.

03-14-2005, 05:07 PM	#6
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Re: Non-plant eating snails? All good choices and all are effective. Note than the mystery snail is in the same family as the apple snail. Some think they are the same. MTS are heavy breeders and can overrun a tank in a week or 2 unless kept in check. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

03-14-2005, 06:02 PM	#7
flynngriff Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 34 Posts: 443	Re: Non-plant eating snails? Thanks everybody!

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03-14-2005, 04:05 PM	#3
DJ Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Seymour , IN Posts: 232	you could just get apple snails,,, "Prefers dead and rotting plants and artificial foods like fish food; doesn't eat healthy plants unless no other food is available. This makes the Pomacea bridgesii snail a good choice for planted aquaria." - www.applesnail.net -

03-14-2005, 04:08 PM	#4
DJ Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Seymour , IN Posts: 232	at walmart- golden mysteries

03-15-2005, 06:01 AM	#8
MyraVan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 864	Re: Non-plant eating snails? P. bridgesii (non-plant-eating apple snails) are quite cool, but are not the best at eating algae. For that you want a nerite snail, see the bottom of this page: http://www.applesnail.net/content/snails_various.php I have a little tank with one P. bridgesii and one nerite. The applle snail prefers to eat fish food, but the nerite spends all his time roaming the glass with his teeth going. So the nerite wins for algae control, but the apple snail is much more interesting to watch, as he comes a good way out of his shell, and waves his long antennae around. The nerite stays pretty much under his shell. Warning, though, some bettas will try to eat snails. It depends on the personality of the fish.

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