Snails blocking filter intake

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by SalmonAfrica, Sep 1, 2017.

  1. SalmonAfrica

    SalmonAfrica Batfish

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    Hi everyone

    I've never had this problem before, so I figured somebody else must have come across it.

    In one of my recently set up tanks, I've allowed the snails there (some 3 or 4 species) to multiply. I think that they're charming enough and they keep everything tidy. Needless to say, there are a lot of them, of all sizes and shapes.

    Anyway, they keep clogging the intake of my canister filter! The intake is a modified pipe with multiple drilled holes (made this way to be too small to suck up an adult shrimp, at the very least). However, every morning my filter is struggling because the snails make the journey to the intake (which is off the substrate and glass, therefore a very dedicated journey), to the holes, and die there.

    Why would they do this?

    I know I have an option of putting a sponge over the intake, but for now I'm curious as to why my snails do a nightly suicide mission.

    Any other tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated.
    Regards,
     
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  3. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    My guess is they like the strong water flow, but maybe get trapped in the holes and can't get out?

    I purposefully put snails in my tank - my Rays love them
    When I do a filter cleanout, there are always loads of them in there. Chuck them back into the tank to take their chances :eek:
     
  4. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    Yep.. I do that too, rays and clowns.. Christmas party

    @SalmonAfrica .. I think maybe because instinctively they look for a place to hide at times and the pipe is just appealing?
     
  5. OP
    SalmonAfrica

    SalmonAfrica Batfish

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    Thanks for the quick responses guys.

    I guess it could be anything between looking for the flow, or looking for hiding places. Although the tank has plenty of nooks and crannies, maybe there just aren't enough.

    I guess it's time to modify the intake, then.
     
  6. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    I cant think of any other reason... is it possible that they can smell/sense food.. debris in the canisters and that attracts them?
    If you dangle 1 worm on top of my tank, the rays can smell the worm from the other side of the tank.. could this be a similar scenario?
     
  7. OP
    SalmonAfrica

    SalmonAfrica Batfish

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    @MariaS it is a possibility. I'm unsure of snail chemosensory capabilities (I'm afraid that wasn't my field), but I guess it could be tested by baiting the tank nightly with a more appealing food source far away from the intake.

    @MariaS and @Reedfish while I have both of you guys here and on the topic of snails as a food source - do you use Malaysian trumpet snails for this purpose? Or do your snail eaters struggle with this species?
     
  8. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    @SalmonAfrica .. ... they the common little cone like ones that you somehow always get into your tank with plants etc...

    I don't go out my way to buy snails... I always find loads in my sump but fortunately they don't survive long enough in tank to get to the cannisters
     
  9. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    I go to me lfs and ask them for whatever snails they have
    Is usually MTS
     
  10. Pezulu

    Pezulu

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    My Assassins don't have a problem eating MTS, Pond or Ramshorn snails.
    If it's in a tank and there are Assassins in, they will eat it.
     
  11. OP
    SalmonAfrica

    SalmonAfrica Batfish

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    @Pezulu - it wasn't so much a problem of needing them to be eaten, it was a case of that I was offered a fish, which would primarily eat snails and other live invertebrates. But I know in the past people have spoken about MTS not being a favourite of snail-eaters, due to their thicker shells (especially when they're older)
     
  12. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    Bottom of my tank is covered with crushed snail shells.
     

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