Snails

[Psyhampster]

I've heard that trapdoor snails are good with and foor sand. Anybody know why?

 

[QTOFFER]

I know Malaysian trumpet snails are good for sand because as they move about, they churn up the sunstrate and prevent the formation of toxic gas pockets caused by anaerobic bacteria. Don't know if the same is true for trapdoor snails, but it may have something to do with what you've heard.

 

[Lance M.]

I have lots of trapdoor snails (about 40 in a ten gal.) They will burrow in the sand similar too the mts, but they won't stay continually in the sand like mts. Also they are more colorful. They will get the same size as mts (2 in.) and trapdoors are usually black will stripes around the shell. Trapdoors are also liverbearers so they will reproduce slower than mts which are hermahrodites and reproduce really fast if not kept under control.

Anything else?

I have both trapdoors and mts in the ten gal.

 

[Psyhampster]

My substrate is a bottom layer of seachem onyx sand covered by a layer of gravel. would they be able to move around and disturb the sand?

 

[FishLover14]

maybe maybe not sure... meanagrie or tank girl will come along soon enough and answer it

Dan

 

[Lance M.]

So your substrate has a layer of gravel over a layer of sand? Approximately how deep are each layer?

 

[Psyhampster]

umm, it was a 15 lb bag of sand, and 1 1/2 10 lb bags of the gravel in a 30 tank. The snad is prolly about 1/2 an inch in most places, and the gravel is prolly about 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch in most places.

 

[Lance M.]

Ya they might be able to burrow in there. Get a couple adult trapdoors and try it out. They don't really like gravel but if the gravel layer is that thin they might be able to burrow. I know mts will burrow in almost any substrate. You could get both like I have.

 

[Psyhampster]

ok, thanks for the excellent advice