7Enigma
Aquarium Advice Addict
So I have had for quite a while an MTS outbreak in my main tank. Originally started by a helpful member on here with 10 baby snails, my 20 gallon is now crawling with them. Mainly due to my homemade food (which I forgot to use gelatin) which when eaten clouds the tank a bit with little food particles. These then settle to the substrate where the army of MTS eat away.
I had tried to give some away for a while but shipping issues and costs prevented that. I have a very soft side for any living thing and so couldn't bare to just flush them.
I have had a dwarf puffer tank at work for a couple months now and really enjoy watching him eat the pond snails I breed. There are conflicting opinions on MTS being fed to puffers, so I tried it, and while the puffer hasn't been injured, he also can't seem to get at them due to the trap door and their substrate living.
So I had an idea, and it required a pair of pliers...... 8O
I dug out about 20 or so MTS and put them in a shot glass. These were medium-sized buggers that I'm guessing are the most active in terms of reproduction and growth. There are so many MTS I've seen calcium deficiency symptoms with my plants!
I held the tip of the shell in one hand and put the pliers over the body of the shell (where the snail is). I put my hands over the top of the tank, turned my head (couldn't bare to watch), and crunched one. Instant death, no pain, and dropped the mushed snail into the tank.
My tiger barbs turned into piranhas. They charged at the snail as it sank and started taking huge bites out of the snail remains, spitting shell pieces all over the substrate. My large gold barb saw a tiger with the "foot" of the snail in his mouth (too large to actually fit IN his mouth) and quickly gulped it down.
In less than 10 seconds all that remained was the broken shells.
So while I do not enjoy the practice, it is a humane way to lower the snail population slowly while also feeding the fish, and hopefully the shell fragments will help to keep the calcium level above deficiency between fert dosing.
For those of you will large MTS or othe snail populations that cannot bare to just pluck them out and flush them, its worth a shot. You might find your fish treat them as a delicacy!
I had tried to give some away for a while but shipping issues and costs prevented that. I have a very soft side for any living thing and so couldn't bare to just flush them.
I have had a dwarf puffer tank at work for a couple months now and really enjoy watching him eat the pond snails I breed. There are conflicting opinions on MTS being fed to puffers, so I tried it, and while the puffer hasn't been injured, he also can't seem to get at them due to the trap door and their substrate living.
So I had an idea, and it required a pair of pliers...... 8O
I dug out about 20 or so MTS and put them in a shot glass. These were medium-sized buggers that I'm guessing are the most active in terms of reproduction and growth. There are so many MTS I've seen calcium deficiency symptoms with my plants!
I held the tip of the shell in one hand and put the pliers over the body of the shell (where the snail is). I put my hands over the top of the tank, turned my head (couldn't bare to watch), and crunched one. Instant death, no pain, and dropped the mushed snail into the tank.
My tiger barbs turned into piranhas. They charged at the snail as it sank and started taking huge bites out of the snail remains, spitting shell pieces all over the substrate. My large gold barb saw a tiger with the "foot" of the snail in his mouth (too large to actually fit IN his mouth) and quickly gulped it down.
In less than 10 seconds all that remained was the broken shells.
So while I do not enjoy the practice, it is a humane way to lower the snail population slowly while also feeding the fish, and hopefully the shell fragments will help to keep the calcium level above deficiency between fert dosing.
For those of you will large MTS or othe snail populations that cannot bare to just pluck them out and flush them, its worth a shot. You might find your fish treat them as a delicacy!