Malayasian Trumpet Snails

Hello all,

I have a quick question about Malaysian trumpet snails. I have two in a
betta tank (I think I saw a baby one the other day so perhaps three)
and don't want to get rid of them. This question is actually about
keeping them alive. I recently cleaned out the entire tank (its only
2.5 gals) in an effort to change the aquascape (bugger kept rubbing his
fins on wood at night) and now they definately dont have anything to
eat. Usually they don't have much to eat anyway since I only feed the
fish twice a day and only enough that he eats in under a minute.

I have plants in the tank (Java Fern and Java Moss) and I know that
they don't eat plants much, but I want the snails to at least have
*something* to eat. Any suggestions? or should I just let them be and
they'll be fine?

"PiperJason" wrote in message
ups.com...


I have plants in the tank (Java Fern and Java Moss) and I know that
they don't eat plants much, but I want the snails to at least have
*something* to eat. Any suggestions? or should I just let them be
and
they'll be fine?


With only 2 or 3 snails, I would think there would be enough algae or
detrius production to support them. If you're not sure of this, you
could drop in a commercially-available "algae wafer" or even a small
bit of steamed zuchini. If you do the latter, drop it in at night,
remove any remains in the morning.

billy

They will also eat the fish waste. There is always extra food. The fish will
never get every piece.

"PiperJason" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello all,

I have a quick question about Malaysian trumpet snails. I have two in a
betta tank (I think I saw a baby one the other day so perhaps three)
and don't want to get rid of them. This question is actually about
keeping them alive. I recently cleaned out the entire tank (its only
2.5 gals) in an effort to change the aquascape (bugger kept rubbing his
fins on wood at night) and now they definately dont have anything to
eat. Usually they don't have much to eat anyway since I only feed the
fish twice a day and only enough that he eats in under a minute.

I have plants in the tank (Java Fern and Java Moss) and I know that
they don't eat plants much, but I want the snails to at least have
*something* to eat. Any suggestions? or should I just let them be and
they'll be fine?

Well, since i feed betta pellets four at atime I'm sure all the food
gets eaten. I do have some spirulina flakes for my hermit crabs.. I
might drop one or two in a week or so just in case.

Second question is that I have no idea what the calcium concentration
of my water is. I am starting to infuse CO2 in my little tank to help
my few plants out and I am going to guess that the pH is going to drop
accordingly. What I can do help out my snails? Their shells are all
pretty white now. I have started to use Spring water to fill the tank
as opposed to filtered city water, would that have enough Ca to make
the snails happy? What about taking a bit of a Rolaids and sprinkling
it in the water? How much of a tablet should I use? Should I bother?

On 12 Feb 2006 12:20:12 -0800, "PiperJason"
wrote:

Second question is that I have no idea what the calcium concentration
of my water is. I am starting to infuse CO2 in my little tank to help
my few plants out and I am going to guess that the pH is going to drop
accordingly. What I can do help out my snails? Their shells are all
pretty white now. I have started to use Spring water to fill the tank
as opposed to filtered city water, would that have enough Ca to make
the snails happy? What about taking a bit of a Rolaids and sprinkling
it in the water? How much of a tablet should I use? Should I bother?


Before you start adding stuff to your water, why not find out what's
already in it. does your city water service provide such information?
How provides the spring water? do they tell you what is in it? why
use that instead of city water?

Try a small container of water, add CO2 to it and see what the pH
does, rather than trying it on your aquarium.

If your water really is deficient in calcium, crushed coral is
frequently recommended, probably better than trying to use some
medication intended for people.

On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 20:28:11 GMT, Charles
wrote:

On 12 Feb 2006 12:20:12 -0800, "PiperJason"
wrote:

Second question is that I have no idea what the calcium concentration
of my water is. I am starting to infuse CO2 in my little tank to help
my few plants out and I am going to guess that the pH is going to drop
accordingly. What I can do help out my snails? Their shells are all
pretty white now. I have started to use Spring water to fill the tank
as opposed to filtered city water, would that have enough Ca to make
the snails happy? What about taking a bit of a Rolaids and sprinkling
it in the water? How much of a tablet should I use? Should I bother?


Before you start adding stuff to your water, why not find out what's
already in it. does your city water service provide such information?
How provides the spring water? do they tell you what is in it? why
use that instead of city water?

Try a small container of water, add CO2 to it and see what the pH
does, rather than trying it on your aquarium.

If your water really is deficient in calcium, crushed coral is
frequently recommended, probably better than trying to use some
medication intended for people.

I can't speak for others, but my lfs always has an open bag of crushed
coral in the back room and happily drops a handful into a baggie for
me when I need a little. But before you do anything else, test that
spring water you plan to use, water testing is another free service
that many lfs people are happy to provide. Once or twice. Then it's
time to buy your own kit.

-- Mr Gardener

On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 16:33:18 -0500, Mr. Gardener
wrote:

On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 20:28:11 GMT, Charles
wrote:

On 12 Feb 2006 12:20:12 -0800, "PiperJason"
wrote:

Second question is that I have no idea what the calcium concentration
of my water is. I am starting to infuse CO2 in my little tank to help
my few plants out and I am going to guess that the pH is going to drop
accordingly. What I can do help out my snails? Their shells are all
pretty white now. I have started to use Spring water to fill the tank
as opposed to filtered city water, would that have enough Ca to make
the snails happy? What about taking a bit of a Rolaids and sprinkling
it in the water? How much of a tablet should I use? Should I bother?


Before you start adding stuff to your water, why not find out what's
already in it. does your city water service provide such information?
How provides the spring water? do they tell you what is in it? why
use that instead of city water?

Try a small container of water, add CO2 to it and see what the pH
does, rather than trying it on your aquarium.

If your water really is deficient in calcium, crushed coral is
frequently recommended, probably better than trying to use some
medication intended for people.

I can't speak for others, but my lfs always has an open bag of crushed
coral in the back room and happily drops a handful into a baggie for
me when I need a little. But before you do anything else, test that
spring water you plan to use, water testing is another free service
that many lfs people are happy to provide. Once or twice. Then it's
time to buy your own kit.

-- Mr Gardener


They (the LFS) may have different needs. Two of them near my place
use RO systems on all their water, then add stuff back in. I have
more than enough minerals in my water when it comes from the tap.

On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 22:30:09 GMT, Charles
wrote:

On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 16:33:18 -0500, Mr. Gardener
wrote:

On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 20:28:11 GMT, Charles
wrote:

On 12 Feb 2006 12:20:12 -0800, "PiperJason"
wrote:

Second question is that I have no idea what the calcium concentration
of my water is. I am starting to infuse CO2 in my little tank to help
my few plants out and I am going to guess that the pH is going to drop
accordingly. What I can do help out my snails? Their shells are all
pretty white now. I have started to use Spring water to fill the tank
as opposed to filtered city water, would that have enough Ca to make
the snails happy? What about taking a bit of a Rolaids and sprinkling
it in the water? How much of a tablet should I use? Should I bother?


Before you start adding stuff to your water, why not find out what's
already in it. does your city water service provide such information?
How provides the spring water? do they tell you what is in it? why
use that instead of city water?

Try a small container of water, add CO2 to it and see what the pH
does, rather than trying it on your aquarium.

If your water really is deficient in calcium, crushed coral is
frequently recommended, probably better than trying to use some
medication intended for people.

I can't speak for others, but my lfs always has an open bag of crushed
coral in the back room and happily drops a handful into a baggie for
me when I need a little. But before you do anything else, test that
spring water you plan to use, water testing is another free service
that many lfs people are happy to provide. Once or twice. Then it's
time to buy your own kit.

-- Mr Gardener


They (the LFS) may have different needs. Two of them near my place
use RO systems on all their water, then add stuff back in. I have
more than enough minerals in my water when it comes from the tap.

I'm getting lost. I must have lost track of who wrote what. I thought
you just said that you " have no idea what the calcium concentration
of my water is."

Around these parts, all of the local fish stores have the same needs:
To serve their customers.


-- Mr Gardener