Anyone used eSHa Gastropex Snail killer?

[Quatermass]

I've got a plague of ramhorns and this Netherlands product claims to be
the only product that doesn't require water changes afterwards.

It is also said to clear bacterial blooms as well.

It doesn't say what is in it unfortunately and I was wondering if
anyone has tried it in a tank with freshwater shrimp?

[Elaine T]

Quatermass wrote:
> I've got a plague of ramhorns and this Netherlands product claims to be
> the only product that doesn't require water changes afterwards.
>
> It is also said to clear bacterial blooms as well.
>
> It doesn't say what is in it unfortunately and I was wondering if
> anyone has tried it in a tank with freshwater shrimp?
>
I've never seen a snail killing product that wasn't some form of copper.
Copper can kill some bacteria as well so the bacterial bloom claim
would still hold. I absolutely wouldn't use it with FW shrimp.

Besides, you're going to have to do a bunch of water changes after using
a chemical snail killer no matter what the chemical is. Have you ever
smelled a dead snail? Ew! The thought of a tank full of dead, rotting
snails makes my skin crawl.

Have you considered adding a loach (or a few if you choose a shoaling
species)? Almost all Botia spp. will eat snails. I think my guppies
and betta eat snails too, since only the bigger ramshorns seem to
survive well in those tanks.

I also pick snails out of my tanks by hand. You can put in a lettuce
leaf or a plate with sinking fish food to lure a bunch of them to one
place. With patience, you can clear out a snail infestation pretty well
with no chemicals at all.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Dr Engelbert Buxbaum]

Elaine T wrote:

> Have you considered adding a loach (or a few if you choose a shoaling
> species)? Almost all Botia spp. will eat snails. I think my guppies
> and betta eat snails too, since only the bigger ramshorns seem to
> survive well in those tanks.

I have seen my Betas pick baby snails out of the Java moss, especially
the females. The male seems not so interested, but that could be
individual preference, like so many things in Betas. The larger snails I
have now keep underground, surfacing every couple of days like an
U-boat. With that setup I am comfortable, the snails do their job of
turning the ground over, and I don't have them all over the place.

Loaches are herd animals, adding a single one to a tank just to get rid
of snails would be cruel. Especially clown loaches get quite big (almost
a foot long), so you need a fairly big tank to keep a herd of 5-6
animals. OTOH, they are truly fascinating fish.
>
> I also pick snails out of my tanks by hand. You can put in a lettuce
> leaf or a plate with sinking fish food to lure a bunch of them to one
> place. With patience, you can clear out a snail infestation pretty well
> with no chemicals at all.

With most snail species feeding less can reduce their population. Most
fish will eat snails after they were crushed by hand, this is an
economic, albeit tedious, way of getting rid of them.