Snails in the aquarium – where we come from and how we fight

The snails of the aquarium were generally divided by water -ters into ornamental and parasites. The former have a nice appearance and keep the aquarium clean. The latter should be eliminated, because their rapid multiplication leads to the deterioration of the quality of the water and the destruction of the vegetation.

There are several proven ways to control the infestation with snails in aquariums. Specialists recommend using different methods simultaneously to obtain the desired effect faster. It is useful to know where snails and snails from the aquarium come from to prevent their appearance in the future.

Where do the snails come from in the aquarium?

The invasive snails of the aquarium include, in particular:

● Viviparus,
● Acute physella,
● Planorbella,
● Lymnaea.

These organisms can occur by chance in the aquarium. Among the Acquarists, there are people who prefer to feed their fish with living food of natural aquariums. Together with this, they often capture the plankton and other unwanted organisms, such as snails, and transfer them together with fish food in the aquarium. The second most common cause of snails in the aquarium is that they reach plants. To avoid this, it is recommended to equip the aquarium only with plants grown in vitro, that is, increased plants in sterile conditions. The snails can be brought to the aquarium and with decorations collected by rivers or ponds, for example stones, roots, located in the aquarium without adequate training. An infestation with snails not only negatively affects the appearance of the aquarium, but also leads to damage to the oxygenation of the water and, therefore, to the quality of the water. Many invasive species feed on vegetation and will represent a threat to the aquarium flora.

Are they all parasitic molds?

Not all the snails of the aquarium are harmful. In addition to parasites, water -born distinguishes ornamental species. Here are the most common species of useful snails in the aquarium:

● Ampulars in Famillariidae Fami. These animals originate from South America. They resemble the appearance of wine grapes. The amplain are beautiful in sight. Their shells can have a diameter of up to 65 mm and are available in different varieties of colors. The most common colors are yellow, brown, blue and white. In addition to their attractive appearance, they must also pay attention to their usefulness: «their health service»;

● Melanoides tuberculata-initially, their habitat was in the regions of Southeast Asia and are now found in areas with a tropical, subtropical and temperate climate. They have elongated bullets, conical, olive-beige with darker spots. These small snails eat dead biological material and food residues and therefore prevent the formation of march areas in the aquarium. Indicate the purity of the water;

● Exotic algae escaped: the most common species of them is non -strine. They are available in different varieties of colors. The shell is decorated with various models: stripes, fish, zigzag. They are an excellent natural support for cleaning aquarium. They are good at cleaning the algae glass.

The first two types of snails, although they play a positive role, reproduce easily. To prevent their excess in the aquarium, it is sufficient to get rid of the eggs, which are on the lid or on the aquarium. In the case of the latter, the reproduction takes place in salted water, so it is better to keep them in a freshwater aquarium.

How can snails be fought from the aquarium?

There are several ways to cope with the snails of the aquarium. One of these are technological solutions. Special traps for aquarium snails can be purchased from the pet shop. This is a simple structure in which the bait is introduced, positioned so as not to enter other creatures and when a snail is captured in it, it is removed from the aquarium and removes. This method is the best when keeping the ornamental snails in the aquarium, because it is not a threat to them.

Another solution is a device for the removal of aquarium snails. Unfortunately, it works for all species, including ornamental ones. Pour the portion specified by the manufacturer in the aquarium after an exchange of water. Melci granules do not affect other organisms. Once it has its effect, snails should be removed from the aquarium. The cleaning of the aquarium is important in the fight against the infestation of the snail. Clean the decorations: roots, stones and pebbles.

In what way can you get rid of snails? A good idea would be to enter a kind of fish in the aquarium that feeds on snails. The animal hunts them and will therefore help reduce the number.

Invasive snails are powered by predatory snails. The best known species is Clea Helena (Melc Assassin). He digs in the substrate and is waiting for his prey and when he appears, he injected his poison. Once all the harmful snails have been removed from the aquarium, «Helena» can remain in the aquarium as an ornamental element. In the absence of snails to be nourished, it feeds on food waste. However, it should be prevented from multiplying, because it can therefore eat fish.

Olga Dšbska and Milena Kostrubiev

Photo: Canva.com