Okay, I apologize if this is a stupid question or if it has been answered a lot before.
The situation is that I have a 20 gallon tropical community tank with neon and cardinal tetra's almost exclusively. Some time ago I ended up with a migrant snail that must have come in on one of my plants. Now I have hundreds! I wouldn't mind some of them but it's gotten to the point I'm having to take my filter out and clean the intake valve because they are clogging it. I'm having to do this at least three times a week, and by the end of the week you see there are at least another hundred.
I've tried putting in lettuce and making sort of a snail trap. I've been doing this for months and I still can't keep up with the population bursts. I've taken things out to thoroughly clean them of eggs, etc. I'll be fine for a little while but by the end of the week it seems like they magically appear!
I do work in a pet store so there have been several solutions made known to me. One coworker insists I just use chemicals and be done with it.. but I've heard bad things and I really hate to use chemicals unless absolutely necessary. I also don't want to risk stressing my tetra's too much. Another coworker is trying to talk me into getting a clown loach. I flat out refused to do this one because it's only a 20 gallon and I don't like the idea of getting a fish just to eat snails and then have to get rid of it in time unless I upgraded.. plus I do worry about them picking on my other fish even if I did move them to a larger tank in time. I know there are other loaches out there but most seem to require at least 30 gallons. I'm not a fan of crowding fish, so I really don't want to go this route unless there's something within size range that I can reasonably do.
I guess my last option would be to completely remove my gravel/plants and decor and start almost fresh, but I worry this will cause my tank to cycle, as I'd have to replace the filter media, as well, in all likelihood, since there have been plenty of them clinging to it. Again, possible stress. Is there ANYthing else I can do, perhaps something I have missed? Are the chemicals even that bad?
Thanks in advance. Sorry for being long winded.
The situation is that I have a 20 gallon tropical community tank with neon and cardinal tetra's almost exclusively. Some time ago I ended up with a migrant snail that must have come in on one of my plants. Now I have hundreds! I wouldn't mind some of them but it's gotten to the point I'm having to take my filter out and clean the intake valve because they are clogging it. I'm having to do this at least three times a week, and by the end of the week you see there are at least another hundred.
I've tried putting in lettuce and making sort of a snail trap. I've been doing this for months and I still can't keep up with the population bursts. I've taken things out to thoroughly clean them of eggs, etc. I'll be fine for a little while but by the end of the week it seems like they magically appear!
I do work in a pet store so there have been several solutions made known to me. One coworker insists I just use chemicals and be done with it.. but I've heard bad things and I really hate to use chemicals unless absolutely necessary. I also don't want to risk stressing my tetra's too much. Another coworker is trying to talk me into getting a clown loach. I flat out refused to do this one because it's only a 20 gallon and I don't like the idea of getting a fish just to eat snails and then have to get rid of it in time unless I upgraded.. plus I do worry about them picking on my other fish even if I did move them to a larger tank in time. I know there are other loaches out there but most seem to require at least 30 gallons. I'm not a fan of crowding fish, so I really don't want to go this route unless there's something within size range that I can reasonably do.
I guess my last option would be to completely remove my gravel/plants and decor and start almost fresh, but I worry this will cause my tank to cycle, as I'd have to replace the filter media, as well, in all likelihood, since there have been plenty of them clinging to it. Again, possible stress. Is there ANYthing else I can do, perhaps something I have missed? Are the chemicals even that bad?
Thanks in advance. Sorry for being long winded.