Getting rid of snail hitch hikers!

[rodm81]

I want my next aquarium to be planted. I really don't like snails at all. I find them to be gross. Is there a sure way to ensure that snail eggs are not on the plants prior to placing them in the tank? I won't start my tank until May 2014 but I'm doing all of my research now. Thank you in advance.

[madagascariensis]

I forgot the exact concentrations for each, but soaks in alum, potassium permanganate, bleach and salt can all be used against snails on new plants. After that you could also quarantine plants just to make sure no snails or eggs survived the treatment. If, despite efforts some snails make it into your tank, it isn't the end of the world. I always keep some ramshorns in all my tanks because if they weren't there, I tend to start overfeeding and become lazy with water changes. They are excellent government watchdogs.

[korith]

After having pest snails infest my tanks more than once, it took a long time to get rid of them. Even went as far as to completely empty a tank to be rid of them. I usually get new plants every month or two, I treat every plant the same. Pick out any visible hitchhikers, and then dump the plants into a 5g bucket with water and potassium permanganate. The permanganate will deal with any snail eggs or other stuff on the plants. Then rinse the plants off with clean water. It's a good idea to wear old clothes, since the permanganate tends to dye stuff purple:p

I don't like to use a water with bleach mix. Some plants do tolerate it but you have to really be careful how long you leave plants in with the bleach. Some plants do not handle even a short time with bleach that will.

Can always buy a few assassin snails (anentome helana) and put them in the tank as well. These snails feed off of other snails. Their numbers don't get out of control.

[Hardy85]

Assassin snails :), currently working on riding my 10 gallon shrimp tank of pond snail infestation... I love these guys, they look good, breed slow, and slowly eat all the bad snails... great addition. Plus if you do end up with too many of them, so many people are looking for them you are just about guaranteed to be able to sell them

[rodm81]

Thanks for the replys. I know of the assasin nails, but don't think I can deal with them either. Will def do the potassium soak.

[genocidex]

even if you get snails it isnt the end of the world like madagascar said. they are a great way of warning you about over feeding, or algae growth, or general cleanliness of the tank. i have them in my 55g, and i never see a dang one until i start over feeding my gourami or let dead leaves sit too long on my bottom. when i see 1 i look around the tank and do a surface vacing for good measure. but then again, having a gouarmi, and predators in the tank might be why i dont see any...