influx of snails

[Pele]

REcently, my tank has been experiencing a massive increase in snnails, there everywhere! Ive couted aroud 50.
How do you get red of them and, more importanty, can they feel pain? I feel so horrible about the idea of smooshing sentient snails

[Dave66]

Too much food in your aquarium system is why you have such a bloom of snails. What are you feeding your fish, how often, and how much? What kind of fish do you have?

On the upside, snails are excellent janitors, and will keep the glass and objects of your tank nice and clean. I wouldn't worry about them, and when we solve the reason for excess nutrients in your tank, the snails will gradually lessen in numbers.

Dave

[Zilla]

I'm not a fan of snails, but when I had a few in my tank, I didn't squish them as I didn't want to get cut and have some nasty infection develop in my hand. I took them out as I found them and didn't have a problem after that.

Where are the snails coming from? Is your tank planted? If so, it's time to start giving plants a bath in either a bleach solution or with Potassium Permanganate to kill the snails and their eggs which are really, really hard to detect as the egg sacks are clear.

Pick them out by hand, stop overfeeding and treat plants if you have them. Do not use Snail Rid as your tank will become a big, foul smelling mess. There are also posts around here that explain how to create a snail trap. Some people prefer the baited bottle method, others use a plate. Basically you put some food under a clean dish that has been rinsed really well and come morning, the snails should be attached to the bait. The trick is lifting the plate and capturing all the snails with a net.

If you have 50, odds are there are plenty more especially if you have lots of food hanging around. IMO, it's easier just to clean up the food mess if there is one and pick them out and toss them in the trash.

[gm72]

If you have another tank in which you house loaches, pick up the snails and put them in the loach tank. Free food.