How do ramshorn snails survive

They will also love any type of Driftwood. They aren't picky about substrate either, sand , gravel, stones, bare-bottom, they don't mind! They reach sexual maturity very quickly and are also hermaphroditic, which means they have both male and female reproductive organs. For Off-Spring, they will lay eggs in clutches A tough jelly-like substance covering the eggs for safety usually on Decorations, The Glass, Filter Housing, really anywhere.

They will hatch within 12 - 30 days and sometimes may take longer. A good way to control Breeding is to limit their added supplement of food, they will only breed as much as there is food available to them. Feeding and Diet Despite what many people and untrained pet store employees say, Ramshorns will need something in addition to their normal clean up meal.

Since Ramshorns can't go up and eat flaked food like your other fish, they will need something meant for them. An Algae Wafer every week will keep their population fairly low, if you still are having a large amount of reproduction from your Ramshorns, you can break the Algae Wafer in half or feed more sparingly, but they should get a chance to eat.

Some good supplemental food for Ramshorn snails are: Tetra PlecoWafers Pro version contains cellulose as Plecos need cellulose for digestion. Tetra Bottom Feeder Tablets As of November , these specific tablets have caused algae to bloom in one of my 10g Communities, feed at your own discretion. A good way to prepare them is through blanching to make them soft and usually sink so you won't need a vegetable clip or fork to hold them down, a good blanching tutorial is:.

Join the discussion. Latest reviews TacomaToker 1. You are telling people not to feed their shrimp and snails copper? Like most snails, the Ramshorn is susceptible to high nitrate and ammonia levels, so your filter must cycle the water efficiently. These snails are quite resilient. However, they are notorious for introducing diseases into a community tank. When you buy them from the store, they can have parasitic skin flukes.

Snails are the perfect host for these parasites. Flukes can latch onto the sides of other fish to feed. This results in stress and other major health complications. If adding something that contains copper is unavoidable we recommend moving your Ramshorn Snails to another tank with matching water conditions of course until all traces of it are out of the water. Ramshorn Snails will spend most of their time looking for aquarium algae to eat.

Aside from algae, Ramshorn Snails love to feed on decaying plant matter. The snails will even eat dead fish and shrimp if given the chance. You can also provide algae wafers and calcium fish supplements.

The latter will strengthen their shells. Some basic vegetables are a good choice as well. When you feed the snails, only provide them with as much food as they can eat in 5 minutes. For the most part, Ramshorn Snails will keep to themselves.

You might spot your snails climbing on the glass walls or hanging delicately from a plant leaf. One interesting behavioral quirk about these snails is that they can often feed in groups. Ramshorn Snails are often the target of aggressive fish. Several species will eat these mollusks any chance they get. If you want to keep your snail population healthy, stick to non-aggressive fish.

You can also introduce other peaceful snails like the Mystery , clams, and peaceful shrimp into the mix. Thanks to their frequent spawning, it can be a challenge to keep the population under control. Search Advanced…. New posts. Search forums. Can snails survive out of water? Thread starter maronov Start date Dec 28, JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.

Dec 14, 0 0 New York, NY. Ramshorn Snails do best in tanks where sudden shifts in conditions are avoided. A Ramshorn Snail seems to enjoy being in water within the community tank range:. Aquarium pH: 7. Make sure Ammonia and Nitrite levels are at 0 ppm, and control Nitrate levels as well as organic matter accumulation with regular partial water changes.

As with other shelled tank mates, be very careful when using medications and plant fertilizers as some of the ingredients may be harmful. Most importantly, avoid copper. Even in small amounts, copper can be fatal. These snails spend alot of time on the hard surfaces of a tank searching for something to eat. Ramshorn Snail food sources include dead or decaying plant matter, soft algae , uneaten food and fallen tank mates. Ramshorn Snail food should also include a variety of fish flakes, pellets, bottom feeder tablets, algae wafers and calcium-rich supplements.

Calcium is important for healthy shell growth. As for feeding, feed in small amounts and no more than the snails can eat in 5 minutes. Ramshorn Snail food can also include dead fish, snails or shrimp. Even though a Ramshorn Snail will eat dead fish and snails, its best to remove the deceased to avoid ammonia spikes and other water quality issues.

A Ramshorn snail can also interested in eating dead aquarium shrimp. Ramshorns seem particularly interested in feeding on molted Bamboo and Amano shrimp shells.

Some hobbyists let the snail feed on the shell for a while so it can ingest some of the minerals. When the snail is finished feeding, simply remove the remaining portion of the shell from the tank. One interesting thing to observe are Ramshorn Snails eating in groups. Ramshorn Snails are very active, moving about the tank during the day and night on the prowl for food.

When one Ramshorn finds a source of food, other snails will migrate to the area. The group of snails will devour the food until gone. Often, clumps of snails actively move to position themselves in just the right spot to get the best bite. Algae Growth: A favorite Ramshorn Snail food is soft green algae growing on hard surfaces like aquarium glass, filter intakes, gravel, decorations and slow growing plant leaves.

A Ramshorn Snail may also be interested in soft brown algae growing just below the substrate line. A hungry Ramshorn Snail can spend hours digging an inch or so below the substrate eating algae buildup off the glass. Ramshorn Snails do not seem interested in eating Green Spot Algae.

It is probably too hard for them. Fresh Vegetables: An often overlooked Ramshorn Snail food source are fresh vegetables. Rinsed green lettuce leaves, spinach leaves and even green zucchini slices are good choices.