Breeding Ramshorn...
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- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Fri May 11, 2012 2:54 am
- Location (country): California USA
Breeding Ramshorn...
I would like to start breeding Ramshorn snails to feed a Figure Eight Puffer.
Day 1
Bought a Tetra Aquarium Cube Tank (1.5 Gallons), leaving it bare bottom.
Added the supplied air pump powered filter.
Added ~30 Ramshorn snails (the seller included a lot of extras).
Feeding them algae wafers and fish flake food.
Day 2
The next day, I noticed some eggs on the wall, tested the ammonia which was 0.
Did a water change. I planned to do a 50% water change, just didn't think about how fast the water goes from a 1.5 gallon, so it ended up being an 80% water change. Added Prime.
Right after the water change, all of the snails closed up inside their shells. I started worrying about it, but left them alone to see how they do the following day.
Day 3
The ammonia is still 0.
The snails are lethargic, with some hanging out of their shell and attached to the floor, but on their sides. Some are still inside their shells. <5 are actually on the walls, the rest on the floor.
Did another water change, 50% this time, added Prime.
Should I have cycled this tank as well? Is 1.5 gallon too small for a snails only tank?
Am I just slowly killing my snails? What am I doing wrong?
Day 1
Bought a Tetra Aquarium Cube Tank (1.5 Gallons), leaving it bare bottom.
Added the supplied air pump powered filter.
Added ~30 Ramshorn snails (the seller included a lot of extras).
Feeding them algae wafers and fish flake food.
Day 2
The next day, I noticed some eggs on the wall, tested the ammonia which was 0.
Did a water change. I planned to do a 50% water change, just didn't think about how fast the water goes from a 1.5 gallon, so it ended up being an 80% water change. Added Prime.
Right after the water change, all of the snails closed up inside their shells. I started worrying about it, but left them alone to see how they do the following day.
Day 3
The ammonia is still 0.
The snails are lethargic, with some hanging out of their shell and attached to the floor, but on their sides. Some are still inside their shells. <5 are actually on the walls, the rest on the floor.
Did another water change, 50% this time, added Prime.
Should I have cycled this tank as well? Is 1.5 gallon too small for a snails only tank?
Am I just slowly killing my snails? What am I doing wrong?
- puffykid
- Former Staff Member
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- Joined: Mon May 30, 2011 3:16 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location (country): Madison, WI
Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
Yes the tank should be cycled and I think the minimum that people use is a 5g.
1 M. Turgidus - 29 gallon
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- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 87
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- My Puffers: GSP-55G
Dog Faced-75G
S&S-55G (untill next month when I get my 300G) - Location (country): USA, Oklahoma
- Location: Weatherford, OK
Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
I think a 5g to 10g would be more beneficial. I added 25 snails to a 10g and in about a month have easily over a 1000 snails. Really hard to kill though so may be ok.
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- Mentor
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Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
Snail tanks do not require pre-cycling without livestock. neither common pond nor ramshorn snails are sensitive to ammonia.
I agree that larger is better for snail production.
I agree that larger is better for snail production.
Where's the fish? - Neptune
- scpion
- Fahaka Puffer
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4in Fahaka 150g - Location (country): singapore
Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
I have read that if the water quality is poor, they are able to breath out of water. With smaller tank, the die off rate are much higher.
I am not a Troll, I am just pissed..!
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- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 971
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- Gender: Female
- Location (country): North Carolina, USA
- Location: North Carolina, USA
Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
Not attempting to hijack anyone's thread here but I have about 30 ramshorn in a 10 gallon, and they never breed. I feed them calcium rich foods such as spinach, and some algae wafers, and then stuff like shrimp pellets. However, I don't ever see eggsacs or babies. It's heated, and filtered, as well.
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford
- Arny
- Mbu Puffer
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- Location: London
Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
Do you need an air pump for a snail only tank?
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- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 971
- Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 1:03 am
- Gender: Female
- Location (country): North Carolina, USA
- Location: North Carolina, USA
Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
Some people use them, some don't. I believe you need some source of oxygen, but if you have a filter, and it's slightly above the water line this offers some oxygen. I am not claiming it's better than an air pump, but it keeps the water from being stagnant as well. Just my opinion, of course.Arny wrote:Do you need an air pump for a snail only tank?
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford
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- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:08 am
- My Puffers: GSP-55G
Dog Faced-75G
S&S-55G (untill next month when I get my 300G) - Location (country): USA, Oklahoma
- Location: Weatherford, OK
Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
Try putting in a few flat leafed plants, thats where mine always seem to lay there eggs.
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- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 971
- Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 1:03 am
- Gender: Female
- Location (country): North Carolina, USA
- Location: North Carolina, USA
Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
Thanks for the tip =]Anothernewb wrote:Try putting in a few flat leafed plants, thats where mine always seem to lay there eggs.
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford
Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
I do not heat my snail tanks and keep them in the dark. Room temp is fine for successful breeding. Lettuce is their main diet.
Some call it a product of a mis-spent youth, I call it Rock n Roll !
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- Figure 8 Puffer
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- My Puffers: 2 Dwarf puffers
- Location (country): Bridgend,South Wales,UK
Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
I haven't had my pink ramshorns that long but their tank is in my f8's cabinet so don't get much light. I do have a heater on there but only cos it came with the tank and I have just had a baby snail explosion lol. The eggs were everywhere, on the glass, on the filter and especially on the sealant around the inside of the bottom of the tank. I've fed them a bit of everything but they love cucumber and courgette
Re: Breeding Ramshorn...
I keep my snail tank at 78 and feed old fish food or some greens. The breed like snails,