Snails snails and more snails = lots of snail poo

[natebob]

Hey people,

I've got quite a snail population boom in my 10g tank now and they show no signs of slowing. I'm assuming they are just the simple pond snails that hitchhike on the plants. I don't mind a few snails but now there are too many and they are quite messy. Snail poo everywhere...they even manage to make a mess out of my bubble ladder.

Is there anything that can be put in the tank to take a bite out of the population (literally)? I know clown loaches like snails but they will get too big for my tank. Currently all that is in there now is 1 oto, 1 clown pleco and 2 ghost shrimp.

It is heavily planted with lots of fast growing stem plants to help thwart algae growth but the green stuff is still hanging around. Sure wish the snails would eat some algae

[acronym:c0e5d2d1d4="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:c0e5d2d1d4]

[Corty]

Dwarf Puffs are great for this (my breeding efforts CANNOT keep up - even at optimal conditions), but I'm afraid they'd find your shrimp very yummy. Your best bet is to cut down on the fooding of the fishies.

I've found snail populations to be easily controlled. If you have a lot, you're feeding too much. No need for a new addition.

[natebob]

I have heard of dwarf puffers having an appetite for snails (and shrimp unfortunately).

I actually do not feed my fish anything. There is plenty of algae for all the algae eaters to keep busy munching on.

[FawnN]

There really isn't anything you can add for a 10 gallon. I know that clown loaches love snails and can easily get your snail population down, but your tank is too small.

All you need to do is place several lettuce leaves in your tank either on a vegie clip or just floating in your tank before you go to bed and by morning you can remove them. I guarantee you, that depending on how many there are you will have a good amount of them on the lettuce and all you need to do is scoop them up and toss out. Repeat as necessary.[acronym:2b1dd94ef4="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:2b1dd94ef4]

[TankGirl]

I agree that the method Fawn suggests is going to be the only option, in addition to regular picking. If you set up another 10gal and make that a dwarf puffer tank, you can keep the snails you currently have and use it as a snail spawning tank. Dwarf puffers are delightful, aggressive nasty things and are totally fascinating fish!

[natebob]

I've tried the lettuce thing once before. I set a pretty large piece of iceberg lettuce near the bottom of tank and let it sit for approx. 18 hours. When I checked it in the morning there was only one snail on it! I think they prefer to cruise around the plants more than the lettuce.

Should I have tried a different kind of lettuce (do I have finicky snails that want the fancy stuff )? Sounds like I may have to resort to just picking them out one by one. And trying to find all their eggs...they've left them everywhere...it'll be like an easter egg hunt.

Thanks for everyone's help so far