Snail problem

[freshwaterfishlover]

Just earlier this week I noticed a outbrack of snails in my 5 gallon. I count 20 snails.

1. Is there anything I can put in the tank to get rid of them or do I have to take them out by hand?

2. are snails harmful to Ghost Shriimp? Usually one or 2 die a month. I have 3 die in 2 weeks. I also have 2 Cardinal Tetras in the tank and they seem ok.

[Chrona]

I think ghost shrimp will actually swarm and eat the snails. I've seen a couple vidos of them doing so. Also, maybe clown loaches? I don't know if they'll also eat the shrimp though

[minabird]

Clown loaches are way too big for a 5 gal.

Try kuhli loaches. They only get to be about 3" or so as adults. I had 4 in my 5 gal and they went to town on the snails I had in there. They did not eat all of them tho. I moved them to my 28gal to take care of that snail infestation. Now the snails population in my 5 gal is growing again. Time for more kuhlis!!

[KneeKickLou]

if you want the sails gone take a peice of lettuce and boil it until its soft and will sink to the bottom of the tank or weigh it down. Put it in at nighttime and in the morning it should be covered in snails just pick it up. Rinse repeat.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Most botia fish will eat snails. minabird's suggestion and kneekicklou's will both work well

[freshwaterfishlover]

Will try Lettuce

[cocoa_pleco]

that product had-a-snail supposidly works. I dont really mind snails, and find them helpful

[Severus]

They can be too much sometimes. I counted 50 in my gf's 20 gallon when she had an outbreak. They were all tiny. I would defintely go with the fresh vegetable idea for a 5 gallon

[Chrona]

Clown loaches are way too big for a 5 gal.

Try kuhli loaches. They only get to be about 3" or so as adults. I had 4 in my 5 gal and they went to town on the snails I had in there. They did not eat all of them tho. I moved them to my 28gal to take care of that snail infestation. Now the snails population in my 5 gal is growing again. Time for more kuhlis!!

Oh right, my bad. Missed the 5 gallon part lol

[kimmers318]

Just pick up that lettuce, put it in a container and bring it along with the snails right on over here to Missy and her pals Freshwater!!! Even after devouring a 1/2 doz snails they still look at me for more, little piggys!
Once you get the numbers under control make sure to cut back on your feeding....snails over populate only when there is plenty of excess food for them to feed on, and in a tank that small alot of snails means alot of waste to foul up the water. That would be my guess as to why you lost ghost shrimp, gs are not as hardy as people like to think and a tank that can't keep it's amm, nitrite, and nitrates in check will be a bad thing for them.