Snails in the aquarium: good or harm?

Snails in the aquarium are combined with fish or are self-employed transparent home. Shellfish can bring the aquatic ecosystem both benefit and harm. Regardless of its purpose, snails – such are the rightful inhabitants of the aquarium, and the inhabitants – fish, crustaceans or shrimp. Invertebrates are amphibians: they can live both in water and on land. As there are snails in the aquarium, the benefit or harm they bring to the other inhabitants? Will answer these and other questions in this article.

The Benefits of snails in the aquarium

Shellfish – not only a very interesting terrarium inhabitants. They are also great nurses. In the General aquarium snails feed on the remains of feed that is not eaten by other inhabitants – fish or crustaceans. Leftovers – a favorable environment for the emergence and development of various harmful bacteria, which not only pollute the clear water, but also a source of disease aquarium population.

Rough tongue snails – a great device that helps clear mucus and other dirt from the glass walls. In addition, they readily eat the remains of plants. All this has a positive effect on the microclimate of the aquatic dwellings.

Some species of snail can serve as indicators of the state of water in the terrarium. The behavior of the mollusks indicates how much oxygen in the water. If it is not enough, the snail rises closer to the surface of the tank and breathes air. In this case, the solution to the problem of pollution is to replace water or buy a high-quality aerator.

What harmful aquatic mollusks

The downside of mollusks is their active reproduction. Little snail in the aquarium can fill an almost entire space, leaving no room for its other inhabitants. As a result, the amount of oxygen in the vessel is reduced, which destroys the microclimate mini eco-system.

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How to get rid of snails in the aquarium? First, it is time to remove the eggs from the receptacle. Also helps and removing unnecessary adults.

In addition, from snails suffer the aquatic plants that invertebrates simply devour. In addition, many gastropods produce mucus, which also pollutes the water, and the walls of the cage.

To prevent the development of infection among the inhabitants do not belong to them shellfish directly from reservoirs. Invertebrates is recommended to buy only in specialty stores.

How to feed

Setting the stage for pet owners wondering what to feed pet. Aquarium snails in this sense, virtually no problems.

Gastropods ingest food via the tiny funnel, which is formed from the upper half of the foot of a mollusk. On the surface of the water there is transparent film with fine particles of feed. This mixture of snail and sucks through arbitrary “lip”. Eating the contents of the film, the snail gains the next batch. The process lasts until the saturation of the animal.

Most molluscs omnivorous and eat everything that gets in their way. This rotting plants and dead fish, and uneaten food, and even algae that serve as the decoration of the home water. Eating, they both are good cleaners of the aquarium from the pollution.

A Large species of snails can eat the pieces of food more – cucumber slices, carrots, spinach, and even the eggs of other fish occupying the same vessel. However, it should be remembered that gastropods “tough” only the food they can grind and swallow. As a result, pet is preferable to feed cooked fruits, and canned spinach.

Do Not stop snails in the aquarium and small slices of meat and lettuce, previously scalded in boiling water. Also with pleasure they eat and crumbs of white bread. In such feeding it is important to ensure that food debris does not contaminate water. They should be removed immediately after the end of the meal of invertebrates.

Reproduction of snails

In nature there are heterosexual molluscs and gastropods are hermaphroditic, that is, creatures with traits of both sexes. Some species are viviparous, which give birth to toddlers ready for a full existence.

The Only common feature of all snails – their rapid and abundant reproduction. This is especially true hermaphrodites. Enough to purchase one or two individuals, but to whole populations of molluscs. To preserve the harmony in the ecosystem of water dwelling, remember, how to get rid of snails in the aquarium. Make it pretty: you just get rid of excess gastropods or their eggs from the pond.

How to breed snails in the aquarium? It depends on many factors: health of gastropods, climate, tank volume, etc.

The Reproduction of snails-hermaphrodites is as follows. Gastropods lay their eggs mostly on the lower parts of aquatic plants, walls or decorations. Film eggs so dense that it is practically not afraid of the other inhabitants of reservoirs. In a short time hatch of her small invertebrates. The most common hermaphrodites are snailscoil.

Heterosexual shellfish can be viviparous (e.g., Melania or Helena), or also to lay eggs (ampullaria).

How to build a home for mollusks

Snail-creatures with shells on the back. To build and support the integrity of natural shelters snails need calcium and water pH not lower than 7. Therefore, the bottom of the aquarium it is recommended to shoot a ball of small particles of marble, limestone, sea shells. You can also add water drugs that increase water hardness.

The size of the pool should depend on the size of the inhabitants. Gastropods are small enough to be placed in a small vessel, while the aquarium for snails Achatina (one of the largest invertebrates) should be not less than 10 liters.

For the proper arrangement of the terrarium for snails, you need the bottom covered with soil, on which to place decorations, shells and plants. In the case of a decision to use soil from your own garden, it must be pre-cooked in the oven to prevent infection. Quality soil for the terrarium should consist of sand, soil and coconut substrate.

For the comfort of snails, which are nocturnal creatures, it is recommended in the terrarium to put the building where Pets can rest in the afternoon. For this purpose the perfect broken flower pots set upside-down.

The Temperature in the aquarium should be the natural climate of the habitat of the snails and do not exceed 25-28 degrees.

The condition of the ecology in the reservoir depends on what snail does in an aquarium. In the event of a favourable environment, the shellfish will feel comfortable and relaxed. In the case of contaminated water invertebrates will begin to worry and may even get sick.

Plants for a terrarium with snails

Although snails are omnivorous, and can eat a variety of plants in the pond should be some fauna. In the aquarium with mussels is perfect ivy, fern, different types of aquatic mosses.

Before “landing” of plants in a body of water should hold them in warm salt water. So you can get rid of possible infections. After ten minutes, the plants should be thoroughly washed. Free from harmful parasites and other uninvited guests, the aquarium can be enriched with greenery.

Top 8 popular snails

The best-known mollusks are:

• Coil. It is present in almost every terrarium. She became well-known thanks to its original appearance and small size. The harm of snails in the aquarium is their rapid reproduction. At the same time diversify the shellfish ecosystem of the home pond and are good neighbors other inhabitants.
• Ampulyarii more capricious in care. It – one of the largest aquatic gastropod. Because of this, amusei have a good appetite and the lack of food easily devour the young shoots of water plants.
• Tilmisani until recently was not popular. However, lately they are becoming more prevalent due to its beautiful appearance. They are very selective in the content. These exotic specimens it is recommended to keep in a separate terrarium and take care of more thoroughly than for other types.
• Melania also popular as the reel. However, there is a difference in appearance and lifestyle. Melania inhabit and reproduce in the soil, it automatically shoveling. As well as the coils, they are prone to the rapid growth in population that threatens the overpopulation of the tank.
• Neretina are not only very beautiful but also very useful. The use of snails in the aquarium is to carefully clean the pond of algae. Shellfish these are pretty expensive. The disadvantages include the short age of Aretino.
• Marisa snails belongs to the giants. Species can grow to six or more inches. Marisa should be kept in a separate cage, as she is very voracious and eats aquatic plants down to the roots.
• Helena is one of the most unusual snails. Helena almost the only snails are cannibals, as it feeds on its smaller neighbors. On the one hand, it helps get rid of excess shellfish from the aquarium. At the same time, Helena's advisable to keep separately, as it can eat and exotic species of snails.
• Fizy are snails Lilliputians. Small and easily propagated fizy can survive in harsh conditions. The lack of snails is the ability to bite holes in very hard plants, which rather spoils their appearance and harm to survival.

Diseases of snails

Like all living creatures, molluscs susceptible to various diseases. Gastropods exported from the tropics, can be carriers of parasites.

Crawling through the walls of the aquarium, the snail may fall down, falling, damage the shell. A chip should be treated with antiseptic to prevent infection. Soon, “Rana” heal and armor will be restored.

Often Not recommended to take Pets to hand. Thus, it can be disturbing phlegmatic creatures. Taking a pet, you should wet the leg of the animal with water and gently bring it under the palm. Secondhand it is recommended to hold the snail shell. To keep the clam in the hands should be long, so he began to worry.

Gastropods can fall into suspended animation. The duration of hibernation depends on climate conditions and humidity levels.

Features coil snail in the aquarium

A Clam of this species is a frequent inhabitant in the home waters. These invertebrates can be breed intentionally, but most often they fall into the aquarium with plants.

Outwardly, snails coils are easily distinguished from other species. They have a sink in the form of a tightly wound flat spiral. Between the turns is easily visible seam. In natural conditions, some types of coils can reach 3.5 cm. But in the aquarium they usually do not grow more than 1 centimeter.

A Feature of clam is the ability to float on the surface of the water sink down. This is possible due to air bubbles that are inside a snail house.

The nature of known types of coils:

• Horn. The largest of the clams data. Its size can reach 3.5 cm Color of the shell is brown, and the body – reddish-brown. Powered Horny coil feed waste and remains of plants.
• Horny red coil is the second smallest (2 cm). In contrast to the simple Horny, this species has a bright red shell. Horn coil – excellent nurse-eating bacteria and uneaten food.
• Far East. The birthplace of this type of coil – East Asia. Coil unpretentious care. Shell color ranges from reddish to brown. As food of the far Eastern mollusk prefers plants.
• Keeled coil is stored in the tank along with plants and soil. Grayish-brown shell color is a good camouflage mollusk in the soil. Kiliwatch he eats what he finds in the soil, and also clears the walls of the reservoir.
• Wrapped coil is a pest. Watching snails breed in the aquarium, it is possible to understand that a rapidly growing population can have a significant impact on the ecosystem of the home pond. In addition, zavertysh pollute the soil and water. The shell color of the coils are dirty-yellow, the color of the body – light beige. Coil also can freely exist outside the aquarium.

Beauty ampulyarii

The homeland of this species of snail - the mouth of the Amazon. Over time the population moved to Hawaii, to Southeast Asia and Florida. Under natural conditions shellfish water is only a way of existence. However, like all his kind, he from time to time needs air. For a SIP of oxygen ampulyarii rises to the surface of the water. There she pulls uses a breathing tube and sucks the air through it. Snail, like fish, has a similar respiratory system, consisting of gills and left lung.

The Difficult natural conditions led to the fact that ampulyarii well developed limb, protected by a kind of sash. In times of drought, the leaf closes and the snail is hiding in the sink, waiting out the unfavorable period.

For reproduction ampullaria need partners.

The color of the shell of the clam can be varied. But the basic color of the shell – yellow. Furthermore it is possible to meet a white, brown and even black invertebrate.

Ampullaria Snails in the aquarium survive very well. When buying, remember that it's clams of considerable size. They can grow up to 8-10 inches, but there are instances bigger. Some individuals can match the size with other giants – Maryse.

Different types ampulyarii may differ not only in color but also in form of shell. Snails usually live for about two years.

Luxury Achatina

Pictures of snails in the aquarium breed Achatina display a noble and elegant creature. This kind of shellfish is very prolific. For once gastropods can bring from 100 to 600 eggs, which soon hatch into babies.

Achatina native to Africa. Invertebrate – one of the largest mollusks on Earth. Large shell painted in brown-yellow color and decorated with dark pattern. The carapace length can reach 40 centimeters, and weight-600 grams.

Achatina possess lungs and are hermaphrodites. It is noteworthy that pregnancy inhibits the growth and development of the animal. Therefore, the pairing of snails to a year is undesirable.

Akatinol pretty easy to contain. They are practically omnivorous and do not require special care. Maybe that's why Achatina are very popular as Pets.