The answer to this question depends on the type of snails, the size of your aquarium, and your personal preference. Some snails can be beneficial for your aquarium, while others can be harmful or annoying. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of keeping snails in your aquarium, and how to control their population if needed.
Snails are not just pests that eat your plants and produce waste. They can also provide some benefits for your aquarium, such as:
Cleaning: Snails can help keep your aquarium clean by eating algae, dead plant matter, leftover food, and other organic debris. They can also aerate the substrate and prevent anaerobic pockets from forming.
Balancing: Snails can help balance your aquarium’s ecosystem by serving as food for some fish and invertebrates, and by recycling nutrients back into the water column.
Decorating: Snails can add some color and diversity to your aquarium, especially if you choose some of the more attractive species, such as nerite snails, mystery snails, or rabbit snails.
Drawbacks of snails in your aquarium
Snails are not without their drawbacks, however. Some of the problems that snails can cause for your aquarium are:
Overpopulation: Snails can reproduce very quickly, especially if they have plenty of food and no predators. Some snails, such as pond snails or bladder snails, can even reproduce asexually, meaning they don’t need a mate to produce offspring. This can lead to a snail explosion that can overcrowd your aquarium and compete with your fish for food and space.
Damage: Snails can damage your plants, equipment, and decorations by eating, rasping, or burrowing into them. Some snails, such as Malaysian trumpet snails, can dig up your substrate and uproot your plants. Some snails, such as apple snails, can chew through your filter tubing and sponge filters. Some snails, such as assassin snails, can prey on your other snails and invertebrates.
Disease: Snails can carry and transmit diseases and parasites to your fish and other inhabitants. Some snails, such as ramshorn snails, can harbor flukes that can infect your fish and cause serious health issues. Some snails, such as bladder snails, can host worms that can infect your fish and cause internal damage.
If you decide to keep snails in your aquarium, or if you already have them, you may want to control their population and prevent them from becoming a nuisance. Here are some ways to do that:
Limit their food: Snails will multiply faster if they have more food to eat. Therefore, you should avoid overfeeding your fish, remove any uneaten food, and prune any dead or dying plants. You can also use algae scrubbers or chemical treatments to reduce the algae growth in your aquarium.
Introduce predators: Snails have natural enemies that can keep their numbers in check. You can add some fish or invertebrates that will eat snails, such as loaches, pufferfish, bettas, gouramis, cichlids, crayfish, shrimp, or assassin snails. However, you should make sure that these predators are compatible with your other inhabitants, and that they will not overeat or harm your snails.
Remove manually: Snails can be removed by hand, by using a net, a tweezers, or a snail trap. You can also lure them out by placing a piece of lettuce, cucumber, or zucchini in your aquarium overnight, and then removing it along with the snails in the morning. You can either dispose of the snails, or give them away to someone who wants them.
Treat chemically: Snails can be killed by using chemical products that are designed to eradicate them, such as copper-based medications, potassium permanganate, or snail-eating bacteria. However, these products can also harm your fish and plants, and disrupt your aquarium’s balance. Therefore, you should use them with caution, and only as a last resort.
Snails can be a blessing or a curse for your aquarium, depending on the type of snails, the size of your aquarium, and your personal preference. Some snails can be beneficial, while others can be harmful or annoying. You can control their population by limiting their food, introducing predators, removing manually, or treating chemically. Ultimately, the decision to leave snails in your aquarium is up to you, and you should weigh the pros and cons carefully before making it.
