How to Get Rid of Malaysian Trumpet Snails

Whether you are keeping an aquarium for its beauty, its calming properties, or just because you're a fish person, one of the most interesting parts of the process is the wide range of life that the tank can support. To control different problems in the tank, you can generally find an organism that helps. When it comes to algae, fish waste, gravel aeration, and tank diversity, one of the most common choices is the Malaysian trumpet snail. Unfortunately, the snails multiply quickly, and can quickly overload filtration systems and make new planting difficult. However, there is a way to help control the snail population.

Things You'll Need

Filtration system cleaning supplies
Aquarium net
Clown loaches

Instructions

- 1
  Stop overfeeding your tank. If you notice a burst in the breeding of snails, it can sometimes be due to an overloading of food in the tank. When there is an abundance of uneaten food, the snails have no reason to compete, and more reason to breed.
- 2
  Net out excess snails at night. Generally, the snails are slower and rest together at night, so that is your best opportunity for netting bunches of them. They generally hide in the gravel at the bottom of the tank, so you can net out a bunch of gravel and sift for snails.
- 3
  Buy a pair of clown loaches, which are small, black and orange fish renowned for their snail-rich diet. A single pair of clown loaches can decimate a population of thousands of snails in little time. Make sure the other fish in your tank are compatible with loaches before using them. Alternatively, use an "assassin snail," also called a "killer snail," which is a snail-eating snail.
- 4
  Submerge a clean bottle into your tank, and place a quantity of fish food or an algae wafer at the bottom of the bottle. The snails will flock to the bottle. Remove and empty of snails once enough of them are inside. Repeat as necessary.
- 5
  Clean the filtration system to make sure you've removed all snails from the tank.