Snail infection - getting NASTY

[Tigerbarb]

Remember a while ago when I posted a thread saying that I had snails in my tank? Well, I liked the snails, and thought they were cute.
Now, they are multiplying quickly. I do think the snails are helpful, but if they keep multiplying at their current rate, my tank will soon be tooken over.
I am willing to kill most of the snails just to get rid of them, though I don't want them to die if they don't have to.
I was thinking of buying a 5g tank and scooping up the snails into it, or using my 1-2g hex.
Overall, what do you think you'd do if your tank was about to be a snail empire? I even saw some snails mating, which made me even more frustrated with my snails.

[~Erik3.8.07~]

you could get some yoyo loaches, they'll eat the snails right up

[Steff]

Mine first multiplied very fast, but now I have an almost constant number in my tank. Perhaps feeding less would help a little.

[greyhd]

Like Erik posted, get some loaches and they will eat up the snails.

[Tigerbarb]

you could get some yoyo loaches, they'll eat the snails right up
I want to do that, but my tank is overstocked. (17 fish! - 10 gallons)
I guess I will have to upgrade to a 20g to get some yoyo's.

[Blue Ram]

Well, if you were to upgrade to a 20 gallon wouldnt you be cleaning up the 10g somewhat? That way you could get some of the snails then and then the loaches would take the rest for a meal once you get them in a 20g.

Also a 20g would be a bit to small still. I would suggest for the amount of fish you have about 38 gallons or so would do. Its your fish so the decision is up to you though.

[Tigerbarb]

Something even worse just happened: In my 1-3g hospital tank, (I never even put plants in it) I found baby snails!!! The second I saw this, I was thinking of just doing a good old fashioned tank scrub, and kill the snails. Earlier today, I didn't see any sign of life in the tank. It is bare bottom, with only some pvc pipes for fish hiding places.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the heart to kill the snails, or the money to set up a tank just for them.
I guess I will pick up one of those plastic critter keeper tanks and pop in the snails.
If this problem persists, I will probably just end up flushing the snails down the sink.
I was also thinking that for the hospital tank, I could put bleach water in it.

[Blue Ram]

Something even worse just happened: In my 1-3g hospital tank, (I never even put plants in it) I found baby snails!!! The second I saw this, I was thinking of just doing a good old fashioned tank scrub, and kill the snails. Earlier today, I didn't see any sign of life in the tank. It is bare bottom, with only some pvc pipes for fish hiding places.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the heart to kill the snails, or the money to set up a tank just for them.
I guess I will pick up one of those plastic critter keeper tanks and pop in the snails.
If this problem persists, I will probably just end up flushing the snails down the sink.
I was also thinking that for the hospital tank, I could put bleach water in it.

Be careful! If you do use bleach make sure to rinse with a lot of water and i mean A LOT. You wouldnt want to have fish get put in the tank and die. I remember cleaning my tank and i used bleach on the artificial plants to get algae off and i didnt rinse enough. All my brichardi and loaches died. Be careful if you choose that pat. Good Luck!!!!!

[Tigerbarb]

I checked back on the tank, and each time I look there seems to be atleast one more new snail...
If they reproduce massively again, I might be at the point where I might just pick them up in a handful and crush their shells to death...