Recommend freshwater snails for planted tank

[zyblack]

Anyone know of any freshwater snail that are plant friendly and don't grow too big? Need some for my tanks to clear up dead leaves and algae. Would love to find out the species and where to get them.

Thanks!

[Xema]

Planorbarius is a nice choice, friendly with plant.

[zyblack]

Hi Xema,

I understand you are in Spain so I kind of wonder if this snail is available in tropical Singapore. I wonder if any of the locals here can help me identify which LFS stock these snails. Thanks Xema for the lead.

[iwishweallcouldwin]

interesting... does this specimen do well as a clean-up crew? will it be hassled by other fishes as well?

[Xema]

Hi Xema,

I understand you are in Spain so I kind of wonder if this snail is available in tropical Singapore. I wonder if any of the locals here can help me identify which LFS stock these snails. Thanks Xema for the lead.

Sorry, I can understand what you mean. My english is not so good.

interesting... does this specimen do well as a clean-up crew? will it be hassled by other fishes as well?

Yeah, It´s a nice snails for cleaning, it loves algae in the glass and it uses to eat the rest of food that fishes doesn´t eat. Any problem with fishes, but I have seen how cherry shrimps eat baby planorbarius.

[flashout]

I think you can try on red ramshorn. I previously saw some of the member are selling it. I got also, but I m from Malaysia. Or event you can try on nerite snail.

So far, this few snail work fine on my planted tank. Never go for apple snail. Zoom.. all your plant will gone. But I like them.. hehehe...

[Quixotic]

Ramshorn snails are common names for some snails of the family Planorbidae, which include Planorbarius sp. and Planorbis sp.

The red ramshorn snail can be found easily in most of our LFS. However, ramshorn snails look similar and can be difficult to be identified. So it is not entirely sure what the exact species the red ramshorn shails are, could very well be Planorbarius sp. or Planorbis sp.

Do a search on "freshwater" in this section and I am sure there are plenty of snail information around.

[juggler]

I have these snails. Don't seem to over-populate. I like them better than the smaller versions.

zyblack: Can get from me if interested in Woodlands. These are common and I am sure many other members have them in their tanks too.

[zyblack]

Hi juggler,

I would like to have them but woodlands is a bit far out for me since I don't drive and I stay in Tampines. I will try my luck in the buy/sell forum to see if I can get any from someone staying in the East or Central. Thanks anyway and by the way I like your webpage, nice tanks you have

[whq]

will the female snail lay alot of egg on the glasses??? or they deposit their egg only on the plant??? I am quite interested to introduce some snails into my nano tank, but do not wish to see spots on the glasses of my tank.

[flashout]

Most ramshorns lay their eggs on plants. The eggs very small one.

[Quixotic]

will the female snail lay alot of egg on the glasses??? or they deposit their egg only on the plant???

Just to point out that ramshorn snails are hermaphrodites, i.e. they possess both male and female sex organs during its life. So be aware that they have the potential to populate very quickly and overan your tank if the tank conditions are good.

[whq]

Just to point out that ramshorn snails are hermaphrodites, i.e. they possess both male and female sex organs during its life. So be aware that they have the potential to populate very quickly and overan your tank if the tank conditions are good.

Oh thanks for info.... That is bad... is there any other species that does not populate fast (only have 1 single organ) as i only want to have 1 snail in each tank. Hopefully it is small and look nice. if there is any recommendation pls post some pic on it, as i m not sure of the scientific names of it. Thanks lot

[flashout]

Then you can try nerite snail. So far its hardly can re-produce in tank as most of them are brackish.

[whq]

Do you have a picture of it? Or is it the snail shown in your avatar?

[Quixotic]

The snail in the flashout's avatar is the apple snail, which is although gonochoristic (distinct sexes of individuals), will most likely eat plants. So it is not really suitable for a planted tanks, unless you don't mind of course.

Some commonly found freshwater (supposedly) nerite snails in our LFS, which are gonochoristic, are Clithon diadema or C. corona and Neritina natalensis.

AQ has the search function somewhere at the top right, you can always do a search on "nerite". There are already some discussion threads on these snails.

Happy snail hunting.

[Aquaculture]

I put horn snails (those with yellow and black bands with little spikes near the top) in mine.... doesn't seem to attack plants as they're always either on the glass, substrate or on the rocks. Not once have I seen them on my plants.