Subject: Snails Aren't Slow in Your Aquarium

Whether intentional or accidental, every aquarium will eventually have snails; they are usually brought in accidentally on plants or live food.

Snails propagate quickly and can easily become a nuisance to the aquarist.

For More Information Visit:
http://homeincomeportal.com/wiland697/fp13.htm

While some are welcome, others should be eliminated as much as possible. This can be done with snail eating fish like the puffer. However, puffers can cause problems with other fish when they nibble on their fins.

Collecting snails is usually sufficient and can be achieved by baiting them with a piece of carrot or potato placed in the tank; after a short time the vegetable will collect a large number of snails and can be quite simply removed from the aquarium.

There are three common types of aquarium snails:

* The Lymnaea Stagnalis is the most common of the aquarium snails and is the only one that will destroy our plants.

These snails are also found in outdoor ponds and can be recognized by their single color and large pointed shells. They can easily be mistaken for
the Viviparous Viviparous, which has a brown banded shell and can close off the opening of the shell. Both of these are interesting for ponds but really are not recommended for home aquariums.

* The Malayan Snail has a pointed shell that is tapered and more slender that the Lymnaea. It grows only slightly larger than 1 cm.

They are useful as scavengers and during the day live on the substrate, they are also helpful as aerators keeping the soil loose without damaging the plant life.

While they multiply easily, they are not a danger to the aquarium; their leaving the substrate during the lighted hours indicates the need to clean the substrate.

*The Ramshorn is a reddish or blackish flat, circular snail and among the most common found in aquariums.

While some believe them to be useful in cleaning the tank, others disagree with this conclusion. They are only a danger to the plants when there is an infestation.

Take a look at:
http://homeincomeportal.com/wiland697/fp13.htm

It is your responsibility to thin the snails just as it is necessary to thin the plants; otherwise they can and will eventually destroy your aquarium.

Be Sure To Visit:
http://homeincomeportal.com/wiland697/fp13.htm

Thank you,

Bill Anderson
http://homeincomeportal.com/wiland697/fp13.htm