Snails - Benifit or Pest?

You know those little snails that come with every plant you buy? Why are
they considered to be a pest? Don't they virtually eliminate algae on plant
leaves? What is everyone's opinions of them? Are they beneficial to planted
aquariums, or are they a nuisance?

Marty

"Martin A. Gross" wrote in message
news
You know those little snails that come with every plant you buy? Why are
they considered to be a pest? Don't they virtually eliminate algae on
plant
leaves? What is everyone's opinions of them? Are they beneficial to
planted
aquariums, or are they a nuisance?


Most snails will eat your plants. Few snails are plant safe. MTS's, and a
couple varietys of Apple snail, to name a couple. I have one tank with no
plants, and I let the snails be, because they *do* keep the place clean. I
kill them with extreme prejudice in my planted tanks. I have enough to worry
about with the damn SAE's eating the anubias blossoms.

billy

Martin A. Gross wrote in message
news
You know those little snails that come with every plant you buy? Why are
they considered to be a pest? Don't they virtually eliminate algae on
plant
leaves? What is everyone's opinions of them? Are they beneficial to
planted
aquariums, or are they a nuisance?

Marty



Depends somewhat on how you feel about snails.
The common pond snail is a pest due to its high visibility and excessive
reproductive nature. My opinion.
But I think snails in moderation are more help than hindrance. They are
indispensable in my breeding tanks. Snail poop is much easier to siphon out
that leftover food or fish poop.

Jim

"Martin A. Gross" wrote
You know those little snails that come with every plant you buy? Why are
they considered to be a pest? Don't they virtually eliminate algae on plant
leaves? What is everyone's opinions of them? Are they beneficial to planted
aquariums, or are they a nuisance?

I'm on the nuisance side.
They're unsightly and eat little or no algae.
When my dwarf cichlids breed they eat the eggs.

--
Graham Ramsay
You might be a Bright:
www.the-brights.net

"Martin A. Gross" wrote in message
news
You know those little snails that come with every plant you buy? Why are
they considered to be a pest? Don't they virtually eliminate algae on
plant
leaves? What is everyone's opinions of them? Are they beneficial to
planted
aquariums, or are they a nuisance?



I vote pest.
I think snails in my planted tank are unsightly.
I squish everyone I see- I'm down to two or three a day.
Note to self- soak *all* new plants!


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm

I vote "benefit." Snails are the best at keeping algae under control. I've
never had a problem with pond snails eating my plants. But they are hell on
algae.

If you read the archives of the this group, you'll find that many a hobbyist
has introduced loaches to get rid of snails, then found themselves with an
algae problem instead.

Some people find snails unsightly, but I don't. I consider them a natural part
of the ecosystem. Of course, you don't want your tank overrun with thousands
of them...but as long as your tank is in balance and you're not overfeeding,
the snail population will stay in check.

The only drawback to pond snails is that they can get into the filter and, in
some instances, damage the impeller. Or at least make a racket, rattling
around in the impeller chamber. I use a foam prefilter on my filter intake to
keep the snails (and the baby fish and shrimp) out.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

I like snails, I find them fascinating to watch. But I don't want them
in my tank, partly because of population control issues, and partly
because (tho this may be misinformed, I am pretty new to this) I heard
they scratch the acrylic. I figure I'll do enough damage myself that I
don't need any help.

I find my otos and ghost shrimp (when I can keep them alive) keep the
tank spic and span. And plus they don't poop alot either like snails do.
Or at least the plant eating ones do.

I do have a bucket of plants infested with pond snails (good thing that
I decided to quarantine them first!). I was thinking maybe it's time to
expand further into the hobby and get a tank large enough for loaches,
seeing that I already have free food for them...

Martin A. Gross wrote:
You know those little snails that come with every plant you buy? Why are
they considered to be a pest? Don't they virtually eliminate algae on plant
leaves? What is everyone's opinions of them? Are they beneficial to planted
aquariums, or are they a nuisance?

Marty




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direct replies: yelohk AT yahoo