How do I clean the tank without hurting baby snails?

lulu

lulu

Gangsta Snail
Apr 24, 2008
19
0
1
NYC
www.hollerbackfilm.com
I have a 20 gallon tank and my snails just had dozens of babies. I need to clean the gravel as the snails are getting sick from dirty water, but there are teensy tiny baby snails all over the gravel. We are picking them out by hand, but it's very time consuming.

Any suggestions on safe ways to clean the gravel and do water changes with the little tykes everywhere?

Thanks!
 
only the Ramshorn shells are brittle enough to crack,
no need to worry about our MTS, Apple or Spixie's.
Ramshorn breed like crazy without any predators,
so the population will bounce back fast, and what
ever snails you kill will make for good fish eating.
 
spypet said:
only the Ramshorn shells are brittle enough to crack,
no need to worry about our MTS, Apple or Spixie's.
Ramshorn breed like crazy without any predators,
so the population will bounce back fast, and what
ever snails you kill will make for good fish eating.
Click to expand...

:iagree:

That is exactly what I do, it is good to kill some snails as otherwise your snail population will explode and your tank will get overrun.
 
You could also try stretching a small piece of panty hose over the tip of your siphon & securing it with a rubber band:)
 
I gravel vac the water/waste into a white bucket(s). Make a whirlpool in the bucket with your hand when done, so that all the debris settles in the middle of it. Let it sit awhile, and if there are any snails in it, you will easily see them, or just follow their tracks in the mud.
White pails in different sizes are found at your local grocery store's bakery shop. They are free for the asking.
Just ask for their empties that are NOT cleaned.
You don't want any with soap residue in them. The only pain with them is washing them with hot water to rinse them out realllllly well.

PS. Please remember to never dump any snails into your water ways when emptying the buckets.
 
You can put two or three pieces of blanched zucchini in the tank overnight. The snails should try to congregate on them. Vacuum where they aren't congregated. Move the zucchini into the areas you have already cleaned and repeat the process.
 
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