Sad incident and an unexpected addition to my shrimp tank

[cairocks]

Was a LFS and spotted a tank of horn snail. Kind of interested and enquired the store owner about them. He told me that they are a good control against green spot algae, which I am in constant battle in my 2 footer. So I became quite keen about them. I further enquired if they will damage my plants or if my clown loach (CL) would eat them. But I was assured that it won't happen. Happily, I bought 3.
After I put them in my tank. I observed them for an hour and see that they all had suck onto the tank wall and eating away. So I went to do other things. Half an hour later, I noticed that I can only see 1 snail. On closer inspection, I saw 1 shell upturned and empty inside, then saw the CL eating the other one.>( I immediately took out the last one and it is now in my shrimp tank. Now thinking if I should leave it in my shrimp tank or return it to the LFS tomorrow.
Still trying to get over from the loss of the 2 other snails. :cry:

[Tassle]

I'm sorry to hear of your bad exprience with the snails/loach. Clown loaches are avid snail eaters. :vanish: It is my understanding that they will, at the very least, avidly try to eat any snail(s) introduced to the tank. Do you have room in that tank for an algae eating fish?

[cairocks]

I have 2 otos right now, but they tend to concentrate on eating algae on my crypto. Used to have a SAE but need to remove it as it was ripping away the fine leaves of my Eriocaulon Setaceum. Had always been fighting the green spot algae on the glass by wiping the glass every water change with a sponge, resulting in a number of fine scratches on the glass :embarasse, so I thought using snails might be a good idea. Another algae eater I could consider is the hill stream/butterfly loach. But will do more research before committing this time round :computer: :book2: :computer: :book2:

[simcb]

I have 2 otos right now, but they tend to concentrate on eating algae on my crypto. Used to have a SAE but need to remove it as it was ripping away the fine leaves of my Eriocaulon Setaceum. Had always been fighting the green spot algae on the glass by wiping the glass every water change with a sponge, resulting in a number of fine scratches on the glass :embarasse, so I thought using snails might be a good idea. Another algae eater I could consider is the hill stream/butterfly loach. But will do more research before committing this time round :computer: :book2: :computer: :book2:

Hi cairocks,
Are you using those spong with fine metal stripes? Those will scratch acrylic tanks definitely not sure about glass.

those green spots can be easily remove with a hard unwanted credit card or phone card. I dont think the cards will scratch the glass. Do it just before water change, so that you can remove some spot algae particles in the water to prevent them from sticking back to the glass after some time.

Try it out and see if its effective so far thats how i remove mine and keep them at minimum.

PS: Spot algae in a planted tank means the water parameters is good. I rather have spot than bba. lol

[gigahertz]

I have 2 otos right now, but they tend to concentrate on eating algae on my crypto. Used to have a SAE but need to remove it as it was ripping away the fine leaves of my Eriocaulon Setaceum. Had always been fighting the green spot algae on the glass by wiping the glass every water change with a sponge, resulting in a number of fine scratches on the glass :embarasse, so I thought using snails might be a good idea. Another algae eater I could consider is the hill stream/butterfly loach. But will do more research before committing this time round :computer: :book2: :computer: :book2:

I'd get rid of clown loach and get a bunch of snails. I used to struggle with algae on the tank wall but ever since I started keeping snail it's no longer a problem. I actually want to grow some algae to keep my snails nice and plump :)

[Lotus]

Yes, loaches (botia species in particular) will eat any snails, no matter how big they are.

You could try a bristlenose pleco (Ancistrus sp.), which are very good for brown or green algae.

Almost no creatures will get rid of hard green spot algae, you're better off scraping it off yourself and getting a fish or shrimp you really want. :)

[Walter]

Man, that sucks. Maybe you should try holding on first and return home for research. This way you can fully comfirm about what you are buying, LFS won't always give the correct info. Sorry about your loss and maybe you should practice this in the future. :)

[cairocks]

Man, that sucks. Maybe you should try holding on first and return home for research. This way you can fully comfirm about what you are buying, LFS won't always give the correct info. Sorry about your loss and maybe you should practice this in the future. :)

Yeap. That's my mistake. Btw, on closer inspection of the 2 unfortunate snails after posting yesterday. I realised that their lids are still intact and shut tight. Had put them into the shrimp tank too for the whole of today but they never open. Does that means they are confirmed dead? I think so.... :cry:

[gigahertz]

Yeap. That's my mistake. Btw, on closer inspection of the 2 unfortunate snails after posting yesterday. I realised that their lids are still intact and shut tight. Had put them into the shrimp tank too for the whole of today but they never open. Does that means they are confirmed dead? I think so.... :cry:

Yup, from my experience snails will not stay in their shell for more then 24 hours. My snails goes to 'sleep' hours at a time hanging on the tank wall but they never close their 'front door' and sit on the bottom like that.

Maybe your's are in their 'house' watching a Soccer match? :joking: