fw limpets and eradication of

R

richy

AC Members
Oct 12, 2004
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how do you get rid of freshwater limpets? i have a large outbreak of them in my planted tank. they're worse than the snails. can't use anything with copper in it tho as i have fw inverts in the tank as well. any advice would be helpful. thanx.
 
Limpet reproduction, like that of snails, is based on the available food sources. If they are overpopulating, it means there's a big food source for them to utilize. Increase cleaning, especially removing dead/dying plants and algae, and their numbers will dwindle. Manual removal will help, as well. I wouldn't count on any fish being able to consue them--limpets can hold on better than snails and are usually proof against most predators. Keeping the tank clean is your best bet.
 
Limpets are gastropods, in the same family as snails. FW ones are not related to marine limpets, and have evolved in most FW waterways around the world. They look like a small, flat cone, with a large single foot and two small eye stalks. They range in color from brown to white, some with striped bands. They are herbivores, and some will eat healthy plant tissue, but most go for dead plant matter and algae. Here's a page with some pics and classification info: http://members.aol.com/mkohl2/Fwlimpets.html

Edit--Correcting the link! Thanks for the catch!
 
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