RE: Snails (scallion trap)

["Brett Kemker" <bkemker@mailer.fsu.edu>]

My Theraps III coeruleus pair cleaned out an infested 125 gallon of
Malaysian live bearers in a matter of weeks.  Not a snail left alive!  I
also noted this with the fry from these fish.  As the fry tanks were cleaned
out as well.  I know these fish are barely dwarfs and certainly could not be
housed with Apistos with any confidence.  I did use these fish to clean
tanks of snails.  I simply removed the inhabitants, added a Theraps to the
tank for a couple of days, removed it, and replaced the Apistos etc to a
snail free tank.  I might add that puffer fish are far and away the most
impressive snail eaters.  They simply grind through the shell to get to the
soft body of the snail.  Of course these aren't the best tank mates either.

The problem is that many dead snail shells will cause problems with
increased hardness as the shells dissolve through time.  If you want to
remove the snails completely from the tank, place a green onion (scallion),
splayed open lengthwise, on the end of a string, weighted w/ a plant weight
and placed on the floor of your tank.  They sell these in bunches at the
grocery store in the produce section. You will be amazed at how snails are
attracted to the scallion.  Once the scallion is covered with snails simply
net the whole thing out and throw it in your puffer tank!  ;)  Works like a
charm and doesn't seem to affect the fish.  I usually do a partial water
change afterwards just in case.





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