Mts numbers

[Deeks14]

How many can I keep in a 25 gallon tank I only have small fish tetras and harlequins oto's will the baby snails I'm buying be safe


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[emerald76]

If you are a heavy feeder they will breed


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[Delapool]

Is there any way to tell how many are in a tank?? I see different ones but there could be 5 or 100 for all I know. I wish gps trackers were small and cheap...

 

[emerald76]

Not really


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[aqua_holic]

Is there any way to tell how many are in a tank?? I see different ones but there could be 5 or 100 for all I know. I wish gps trackers were small and cheap...

I think they are like icebergs - only 10% are visible

 

[ScotJudd]

I agree, the snails you see are but a fraction of the total. They can breed like mad, but are easily removed. However, they do a fabulous job of turning over the substrate and they don't eat plants. MTS still get my thumbs up!


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[Fishfur]

I always assume that if I am seeing a fair number of snails on the surface, then there are dozens and dozens more under the substrate. It's not possible to get a real handle on their numbers, but if you want fewer of them, remove adults when you see them, which will slow things down a bit. They are actually outstanding algae eaters too.

 

[trennamw]

How many can I keep in a 25 gallon tank I only have small fish tetras and harlequins oto's will the baby snails I'm buying be safe


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Humans actually have very little say in how many MTS end up in your tank

I got a handful for free (and a funny look, and "are you sure you want these on purpose?"). Last night I turned on the light in the middle of the night and there were hundreds of teeny ones! Now I know why I never have to gravel vac.


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[Fishfur]

My local stores always look at me funny when I mention MTS snails too. They think I'm nuts for wanting them, but they are useful creatures.

I even have a new species of these that I've found, which I hope one day to find a name for, twice the size of the usual MTS.. seems to reproduce more slowly too. I'm trying to grow a population of them.