Pest Snail Outbreak!

[SeaWitch]

...and they are driving me INSANE!!!:mad:

All I can think is that I must have put some plants in that had a few on them that I did not see ( I usually disinfect plants before putting them in the pond and then pick off any snails that survive, if any). These stupid thing get up into my filter's fountain head and clog it up about 10 times a day. Also, when I cleaned the pond today, I cleaned the filter pads, too, and there were SO MANY in there is was sick, PLUS EGGS!

Is there any safe way (safe for my fish, that is) to get rid of these things?????

[flaringshutter]

The best way is to trap them and then reduce your feedings. Chemical products will only foul up your tank/pond for years, as they contain copper.

Snails are a sign of an imbalanced tank - if you're overfeeding or not vacuuming gravel frequently enough, they will multiply out of control. If everything is in balance they will maintain a small population. Overfeeding leaves leftovers for them to gorge on, as does infrequent vacuuming.

However, having a small population of snails is actually a good thing - they will keep the gravel aerated, clean up any uneaten/overlooked food and keep algae in check. To keep them out of your filter, simply put a media bag or semi-fine mesh over the intake.

If you just can't stand them and want to remove as many as possible right away, put a bunch of sliced cucumber with a few heavy rocks inside a narrow-mouthed bottle like an empty soda bottle (2-liter size for a big pond) and leave overnight. Remove early in the morning - it will be COVERED in snails. Freeze them to kill them, thereby preventing any possible infestation of local waterways, and throw them out. Repeat as many nights as necessary. This will dramatically lower your population right away.

[SeaWitch]

I don't think I am overfeeding. My fish only get fed once a day and fasted once a week and I have 6 fish in the pond. I know the snails came in via duckweed I put in my pond. I wouldn't mind them so much, but like I said, they get into my fountain head and clog it up so bad. Also, my pond is covered in algae on the sides and bottom, so the snails have plenty to eat in there. I have a Pondmaster filter so covereing the intake on that would be hard to do. I was wondering if Prazi kills snails and their eggs?

[bekko]

Flubendazole (another wormer) is reported to kill snails but I do not think Prazi will.

Anything designed to kill anchor worms and fish lice with Trichlorfon as the active ingredient should kill snails. Life Bearer has Trichlorfon and I think Clout does too. I'm not sure about Proform-LA.

Dimlin is a chitin inhibitor which is a safer way to kill anchor worms and fish lice. Most snails have chitin in their radula (rasping mouth part) and some have chitin in their operculum (trap door). So, Dimlin will kill snails, but it will be a very slow process.

Anything which contains copper will kill snails and probably do it more quickly. Malachite green (e.g. Quick Cure, Proform-C, etc.) should work but I've never heard that anyone tried it. Copper Safe should work better but be careful because it is easy to over-dose and kill the fish too.

But frankly Nickie, I think the snails are a temporary problem that will go away in time. There seems to be some natural control that keeps the number of snails in check, although no one seems to know exactly what it is. It is probably some snail parasite which has not yet found its way into your tank. Netting out as many as you can and trapping them as flaringshutter described may thin them down enough to get you through the season.

-steve

[SeaWitch]

Yes, you're right. I didn't want to use anything on my fish just to kill snails. However, I tell ya, I have ALOT right now. LOL! Maybe I can get rid of them as I clean the filter pads and just keep picking them out as I can. Thanks, Steve!

[bekko]

This is really gross, but I have scooped them up in a net, then stomped on the whole lot to crack the shells, and dumped them back into the tank/pond. The fish go nuts and pick them clean.

Dimlin is one of the few medications which does not harm. Copper and trichlorfon are another story.

-steve

[bekko]

Dimlin is one of the few medications which does not harm. Well, that was a stupid thing to say. While Dimlin may pose no danger to fish, killing off all the micro-crustaceans can really screw up the pond/tub ecosystem. You could probably expect an intense green water bloom after treating with Dimlin.

-steve

[SeaWitch]

No worries, Steve. I haven't used any chemicals at all. I am just picking them out when I see them.

[Lari]

Nikki, try the cucumber thing....let us know how it works.

[thomasn]

Loaches are good at handling snail problems.