How to get rid of snails in an aquarium?

How to get rid of snails in an aquarium? Some snails, such as the mystery snail sold at fish stores, are pleasing additions to aquariums and do not multiply easily. Unfortunately, some species like pond snails, ram's horn snails, and trumpet snails can reproduce quickly and invade an aquarium without even being invited.

Where do they come from? How did they multiply so quickly? And above all, what can we do to get rid of it? Anyone who's ever fought the battle against snails knows it's tough, but there are things you can do to keep them at bay.

It is not uncommon for an aquarium owner to find a snail inhabiting the latter overnight, without having been added to it... They actually and generally arrive on the plants of the aquarium, either under their adult form or in the form of eggs.

Sometimes they come with the fish, having been picked up while fishing and added to the aquarium together with the water in the carrying bag. It only takes one stray snail or two or three eggs for you to have a resident snail population in your aquarium. Because of this, it's hardly surprising that your snail problem spirals out of control in no time and pushes you to find solutions.

Snail control: the lettuce leaf

Use your superior intelligence to dislodge your unwanted occupants! Certainly snails multiply easily and are aces in concealment, but you can take advantage of their weakness: gluttony. By simply placing a leaf of water lettuce on the glass of your aquarium in the evening, you will have the pleasure of finding your unwanted occupants on it in the early morning. Remove and it's folded! Finally, if this trick will allow you to control the population, it will not allow you to dislodge all the squatting snails. To be used while waiting for a more drastic solution.

Removing snails from an aquarium: eating fish

More radical, the purchase of snail-eating fish is the most effective solution for an active infestation. The two most effective species at controlling snails in an aquarium are the Yo-Yo (Botia lohachata) and the Clown Loach (Chromobotia macracanthus) .

Indeed, these two species would sell their souls for a meal of snails and will not hesitate for a moment to turn over every gravel. Less effective, Gouramis or Bettas will complete this list.

Preventing a snail infestation in an aquarium: prevention

Is your aquarium free from infestation again? Help it to stay that way by using prevention each time you add a new component. A new fish? Be careful not to pour anything from the transport bag into the aquarium except the fish. New plants? Before incorporation, consider soaking them in a treatment bath containing either alum stone, bleach or potassium permanganate.