Melanie Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 I have a big, black snail in my freshwater, 10 gallon aquarium. He used to be rather well behaved, but just lately he has been trying to escape. He climbs up to the top of the tank, hits th barrier, and falls back down. Does anyone know about snails? Should I be feeding him something special? Is he wanting out because he's hungry? Or is it just normal that he wants to get some air sometimes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo1 Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 He is probably trying to get out to lay eggs which they place out of the water. Snails are scavengers and will eat any leftover food on the bottom of the tank, I have also noticed that they love slices of courgette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 Do you know what sort of snail it is? check out http://www.applesnail.net/ And let us know what you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 One of those classic "mystery snails" that they sell at Animates, eh? Kevin Rowe has them and tells me that they're the BEST tank mates for fry. How about one of those little electric fences designed fo keeping dogs in the yard? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interfecus Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 How big is it? They need to leave the water to lay eggs, but reproduce sexually so if you ony have one this is unlikely. Some species such as P. canaliculata will actively seek food out of the water (Incidentally, this is why they're considered such a pest in rice fields. They eat rice seedlings.) and can escape from any tank without a cover. I wouldn't worry to much about it though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alextret Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Speaking of the mystery "mystery snails" from Animates: how bad are they on the plants? Is it reasonable to expect that plants will grow faster than the snails are going to eat them (if they eat them at all). Animates do post a warning that mystery snails "will eat plants". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 I think its a safe bet to say that the snail population and appetites will outgrow the plants ........... :lol: :lol: :lol: Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 All of the large snails will eat plants. The only snails that I've found do a decent job of cleaning algae and excess food and don't touch plants - Ramshorns. Not the little flat spiral snails, either, these - http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/auct ... d=35640687 Sadly, I just had a trio of Convicts demolish an entire colony of them in my little tank Oh, by the way, I should note that Ramshorns poo like no tomorrow and are very good at fertilizing plants.... but pretty hard on the gravel if you prefer a nice tidy tank. That's my two clicks... completely off the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 The brown mystery or apple snails are pretty safe with plants unless they're starving. The golden ones will clear fell your plants though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted September 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 I have two snails, both "mystery snails" from Animates. The albino one I put with my fry. He looks like the one on the index of the apple snail site. He has finished off about $20 worth of plants so far. I have videos of him devouring them. However he keeps the fry tank free and eats anyone who doesn't make it... as happens with fry, sadly to say. I have given up having plants in the fry tank because he just eats them. He's never given me any trouble. I keep a black snail in my tropical tank and he's the one giving me issues. He won't touch the plants. He's stopped his escape attempts today but it's good to know that he ought to survive off of extra food and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted September 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 The brown mystery or apple snails are pretty safe with plants unless they're starving. The golden ones will clear fell your plants though. Yea that's exactly what I've found! I almost wish I hadn't bought the stupid white one, but I think the fry tank needs something in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Just make sure you put the snail in with the fry after they're free swimming. I had an Apple Snail that I put in with some just-hatched baby convicts and the moment I put him in there I saw him eat like three right away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted September 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 I only have guppy fry and I have yet to see him eat a living one, aside from one that was born with its intestines outside its body, and I think that it was for the best that he got that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 I've heard of an apple snail eating a live Siamese Fighter before! Maybe that was just really hungry though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 oh i wish i could take the golden snail off your hands for you! i think they are pretty and fasinating! and i don't mind their appetite either. shame you live up in welly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted September 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 oh i wish i could take the golden snail off your hands for you! i think they are pretty and fasinating! and i don't mind their appetite either. shame you live up in welly. I admit I love watching him. He is more fun to watch than the fry. I've made videos of him devouring plants. If he manages to have babies, you are welcome to some. But he hasn't yet, though the black one has. Anyone want the black, non-plant-eating ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 PMed for black non-plant eating ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klaymann Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Come on Guys/Gals you all know about these snails surely :roll: .. "yellow" coloured =( golden apple snail) = plant eater=(lawnmower).... "dark brown"= ( mystery snail)=(meat/muck scavenger) ( good community dudes) all lay eggs above water line ... pity people who have golden apple babies ( will replicate amazon forest defoliation)............. 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Channeled Apple Snails are also yellow/gold though and they're plant-friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klaymann Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 and how common are they here ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted September 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 I only have black snail babies. White plant-eating apple snail hasn't managed to have any yet, though if he does, Loopy you're welcome to them next time I'm in Christchurch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interfecus Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 Guys, colour has nothing to do with snail identification or appetite. Almost all of the species each come in colour morphs ranging from bright yellow to dark brown. As an example, P. bridgesii is often found in yellow form but wil barely harm plants. You need much more than colour to identify them. Try http://www.applesnail.net to find the identification guides there. P.S. The real determining factor on whether or not snails will eat plants is the size of the 'teeth' on the radula. Big teeth = eats plants. Small teeth = can't eat plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interfecus Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 I've heard of an apple snail eating a live Siamese Fighter before! Maybe that was just really hungry though. :-? I seriously doubt this. The siamese fighter must've been on its last legs and barely able to swim if the snail managed to catch it. They are opportunistic and will eat dead animals if they smell them, but are not predatory. There is no way a snail can catch a heathy fish. The only live fish these things might eat are still in their eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 oh wow thank you! i would really love that. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 There are fish eating snails. But they're not applesnails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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