Aquarium Snails

In the wild, aquarium snails are very beneficial creatures. They help with algae control and removal of dead and decaying plant material.

In your aquarium, however, they can cause problems. One problem is that they reproduce incredibly fast. Each snail in your aquarium will probably lay one or more eggs each week. If not controlled, they can adversely impact your aquarium's ecosystem. As long as they are acting as the aquariums garbage collectors and helping to keep the environment clean, snails are fine - as long as they don't over poputate it. But once snails have attained a foothold in your aquarium, they can be difficult to eliminate.

For many people, setting up an aquarium is more than just a hobby - it's also a learning experience.  It gives them an inside and intimate view into the underwater world of fish.  Putting together the perfect blend of plant life and aquatic life that is beneficial to all the aquarium inhabitants is a tricky balancing act. The inadvertent introduction of snails to the aquarium environment can sometimes upset this delicate balance.

Snails usually enter the aquarium via aquarium plants that the owner has purchased. These aquarium snails are unnoticed because they are attached to the plant in egg form.  The egg sack hatches in the aquarium and the owner is shocked to suddenly discover that their aquarium has been invaded by aquarium snails.

There are several different species of aquarium snails, and depending on the type some are fine in an aquarium environment while others have the potential to destroy the balance within the aquarium.

The Ramshorn snail is shaped like a ram's horn and are typically black, red and checkered patterns. They are very destructive as they reproduce very fast and will eat the plant life within the aquarium. It's best to get rid of this type as soon as possible.

Another snail is the Pond Snail.  This is a snail that breeds quickly and also has an appetite for plants in the aquarium.  The Pond Snail has a football shape and is not a snail that many want in their aquariums.

Apple Snails, depending on the species, can be used to keep the aquarium clean of algae. Unfortunately, some species also love other aquarium plants and will consume them.

Astrea snails for aquarium - Astrea snails are usually a perfect choice for the aquarium. They are one of the best choices for controlling algae.

The Trumpet snail has a spiral shaped shell.  This snail can be seen right below the waters edge on the glass of the aquarium.  This is a type of aquarium snails that is fine in an aquarium.  The Trumpet snail will eat debris within the aquarium helping to keep the environment clean.

If an owner discovers that snails have taken up  residence in their tanks, there is a natural way to eliminate this unwanted guest. Certain species of fish will eat aquarium snails. One type of fish that finds snails particularly tasty are loaches. The Clown and Skunk Loach enjoy aquarium snails as do several types of catfish such as Dorid or Banjo. Add these fish to your aquarium tank and your snail problems may soon be a thing of the past.

Red Sea Fish Tank
If you're looking to purchase an aquarium, but are torn as to what type to get, a red sea fish tank, specifically the Red Sea Max 130D, is a good choice to make.

120 Gallon Acrylic Aquarium
The typical 120 gallon acrylic aquarium will have dimensions similar to 48" by 24" by 25" with the acrylic walls being around 1/2 inch thick.