Who Gives A Fish Forums

Yesterday, I found Subwassertang at my local pet store, nicely tied with stone. I really like it for my shrimp tank but there were snails on it, so I didn't buy it. Can you please tell me how to remove snails from it without disturbing the plant? If it's safe, I'll buy the plant.

I've just set up my 7.6 gallon tank from scratch and waited 2.5 weeks for it to cycle. I don't want to risk ruining it. I haven't added any shrimp yet.

I think it's a tough spot you're in - anything that gets rid of snails is probably gonna put your shrimp at risk too. It's a bit of a tricky situation, isn't it?

grizzlon wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2024 6:02 am I think it's a tough spot you're in - anything that gets rid of snails is probably gonna put your shrimp at risk too. It's a bit of a tricky situation, isn't it?

I think grizzlon has a point. Any method to remove snails might harm my shrimps. I don't want to risk it. My 7.6 gallon tank is finally cycled after 2.5 months, and I'm not ready to introduce any potential threats to my future shrimp residents. Can someone suggest a gentle method that won't put my tank at risk?

You could consider ordering Subwassertang from Tropica instead, specifically the Monoselenium tenerum in a 12grow pot - it's lab-grown, guaranteed to be free from algae, snails, and pests.

When dipping plants, keep in mind that the chemicals will be absorbed and later released into your tank, so tread carefully - especially with subwassertang, it's incredibly permeable, like seaweed. Snails can be manually removed or I've found that keeping fisher1 loaches in my tanks does the trick - they're snail vacuums. I've had a tank crash from bleach-dipping, not worth the risk. As a general rule, I avoid chemicals in established tanks to promote healthy, resilient stock. I like to think of it like a vaccine - over-sterilizing can make systems more susceptible in the long run. A few snails can actually be beneficial, helping with cleanup and strengthening the tank's "immune system." Just my two cents.

I adore my snails, they're a natural part of the aquatic ecosystem. I've got pond snails and malaysian trumpet snails, they're all welcome in my tanks.

grizzlon wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2024 6:02 am I think it's a tough spot you're in - anything that gets rid of snails is probably gonna put your shrimp at risk too. It's a bit of a tricky situation, isn't it?

I went ahead and bought the Subwassertang, now I'm thinking of quarantining it in a bucket for 3-4 days in tap water. I'm hoping this will help get rid of the snails without harming the plant.

This idea came to me after I tried it out for an hour - I put the plant in a bucket, and when I took it out, I found over 20 snails had come out and were moving around in the bucket. I removed them with the water, refilled the bucket, and put the plant back in.

Research the life cycle of the snail species you're dealing with, that way you'll know when to expect eggs to hatch. Place an alternative food source, like a piece of carrot or cucumber, in the quarantine to lure them away from the subwassertang. I'd also recommend using water-change water instead of tap water to help acclimate the plant.

This plant's a real gem, just needs some TLC from current or those little critters like shrimp/scuds to really make it shine. In still water, it can get a bit messy with aufuchs and detritus building up, but with some movement, it's perfect for shrimp and guppy fry.

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Mystery snails will love Subwassertang, they'll eat it right up. Fish that like to pick at plants will also wear it down over time. For some reason, aquascapers tend to avoid it, I've noticed that in competitions. I personally like it, but I've found it's like those very fine leafed plants, delicate ones - they're just too tasty for some tank inhabitants, unlike the Java ferns and other thicker leafed plants that can hold their own.