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So, I have had an algae eating fish in my tank with Jeffrey (my RES) for just about a year now...today, sadly, he has decided the fish would make a good lunch I knew it was a possibility that could happen, but it's been so long I didn't think it actually would! (RIP Bob)
So I was wondering about everyone's thoughts on snails? Do they eat algae and keep the tank pretty well clean?
Also, what kind of snail do I get?

Thank you for everyone's input!

at any given time I have 1-2 dozen Ramshorn snails in a seperate tank to feed my my RES, Thor. then every 3 to 4 days I feed one of them to Thor. the only type of snails that I use are Ramshorns. I don't like Pond Snails so I don't grow them. so place one on Thor's "cookie sheet" in his tank and crush the shell with a small knife that way a hard snail shell won't get stuck in Thor's throat. Thor is a voracious pig that gobbles (non-plant based) food as fast as he can.


You can "feed" the snails with just plain algae drops smashed up and spread across the tank's floor. You really don't even need any plants in the second tank just pea gravel and maybe some dirt and the smashed up algae drops. you don't need a filter either. I have a couple of plants in mine that I know Thor will also eat, so the tank "grows" both kinds of food for him.

hope that helps.

I have what I'm pretty sure is an apple snail. One wall of my tank was almost completely green and I'm really impressed that it's practically all gone. It probably took him about a month and it was one of the small walls of a 10 gallon tank. He only seems to make a difference on smooth services. I have a bridge thing that came with the tank as a basking area that's now completely under water. It has a textured surface and he hasn't made any noticeable difference on that.

So there's my pro. Now for the cons, which this is a big one for me. He poops EVERYWHERE! Maybe even more than my turtle! Granted, my turtle is only maybe over just an inch, but it's literally non-stop. It's live fine pepper sprinkled all over the bottom is the only way I can describe it. I have a Tetra Whisper 2-10i filter that came with the tank and it seems to keep the bottom clear in front of it. It may be the way I have the bridge positioned that the poop collects on the far side from the filter and it's not able to suck it up. Hopefully getting a bigger tank and filter soon, so maybe with some redecorating, the poop won't be such a mess. But this is my first snail experience so I don't know for sure.

Sorry if it's kind of a long post. Lol Just trying to share my snail expertise. (or lack there of *cough cough*) ;P Hope this helps!

My Apple Snails are beautiful, and yes than can clean the walls! I never noticed an excessive amount of "snail sludge" my RES turtle is about 2.5 inches long in the shell and he makes way more waste.

Thank you everyone for your input! Does the RES bother with the snails at all being in the same tank?
I'm going to go to the store and check out the snails sometime soon and I just wasn't sure exactly what I was looking for, so thank you everyone!

All will become lunch. In my opinion!