The snail-coils: description, maintenance, reproduction

Many aquarists are wondering, the snail-coil. Enjoy their appearance or to get rid of immediately in any way? They, like other shellfish, only nurses and too small to hurt the plants. In addition, they provide a valuable food source for many species of fish that naturally regulates the number of individuals.

Habitat

Snail-coil (genus Planorbis) - It is a freshwater shellfish. The size of the spiral shell small, up to 35 mm in diameter. Can be easily adapted to the environmental conditions (water temperature, degree of contamination), breathe air, and dissolved in water oxygen.

Move the snail-coil in the aquarium with clams typical for wide feet. Live by themselves, regardless of all the other processes around.

Types of coils

This kind of includes a lot of kinds, most of which are found in all natural waters. It is not recommended to run in aquarium snails, taken from nature, as they become carriers of dangerous diseases.

The Most popular among aquarists, are snails of the coil:

• Horny;
• Horny Krasna;
• Dalnevostochnaya;
• Ciliata;
• Tavernata.

Soderjanie

Aquarium snails coil Is good for beginners who want to get clams, but have no experience caring for them. The owner does not require special care, so you can focus instead on precious plants and fish.

Another Important factor is the beauty of the shell of a snail. If there is insufficient calcium in the water slowing the growth of the shell, stops reproduction, there are flaws on the surface of "house". To prevent this, you need to put in the bottom waters of some large shells, or enter into the water calcium purchased at a pet store.

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Dangerous neighbours for these shellfish are the fish themselves. Young birds are easy prey, even for guppies, not to mention the large cichlid. They can eat grown-up coil. The wreckage of the shell fish just spit out.

Diseases of the coils

The Most common is worm infestation. The coils serve as intermediate host of parasites that leaving the snails, move to fish. To reduce the risk of this disease, buy shellfish only from approved breeders.

Another parasite that appears in the aquarium with live food - aquarium a leech. It penetrates under a snail shell of coils and feeds on her blood. Not to turn the aquarium into a breeding ground for leeches, be sure all purchased and moved together with plants, mollusks, place a couple of weeks in quarantine - a small aquarium or jar.

For prevention, you can use salt baths. In a vessel pour 400 ml of water and dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt, and then for 10 minutes place in a solution of snails. Leeches while leaving the shell. In addition, pet stores have a special product for the removal of the leeches.

Reproduction

These clams are hermaphrodites, i.e. each individual is capable of reproduction. In order to breed this species, you will need only one coil-snail. Reproduction takes place by laying eggs on the leaves of plants.

Clams are extremely prolific, so often aquarium owners go, what to do with so many coils? In fact, the number of underwater creatures have rehlamentyruetsya according to the volume of the aquarium. So, for every 8-10 gallons of water must have 5 coils. A large population may not have enough food, and then they will be accepted for the plants.

There are many ways to keep the number of coils under control. One of the easiest is to buy catfish antitrust. They clean the walls of the aquarium from algae, and one to eat the eggs of mollusks.

Fish is also maintain the balance of ecological system by eating young snails. If your aquarium global overpopulation, run barbs or cichlids, they can clear the area in a matter of days.

Another effective way is the collection of snails with trap. It is a small metal mesh, which is folded banana peel, apples or potatoes. At night it is left in the aquarium, and the next morning get together with the coils. The catch can be used as feed for fish.

This is one aspect of the problem, but sometimes the opposite situation, when with all diligence, the number of coils is reduced. The blame for this if disease or predators, the decision can be one thing: to collect a dozen individuals and place them in a separate tank or jar. With abundant food and regular water changes you will be provided with the good the offspring (don't forget about the quarantine: in the first few weeks remove all snails that do not show activity). From there, the parts will be able to settle them in the General aquarium.

In the absence of more efficient guardians of the purity, such as ampulyarii, unpretentious coil can easily cope with the function of the nurse. While maintaining a reasonable number in the aquarium, it will bring only benefits andthis will give you many interesting moments during the observations of her walking.