The Puffer Forum

My tank is really starting to get an algae build up on the glass. As a bow front I find it hard to clean. Being a low end brackish tank plecos are out. The only thing left as a option that I know of are snails. Problem is most snails can't live in brackish water...oh and of course puffers eat snails. The only snail I know on the market that lives well in Brackish water is the Olive Nerites Snail. I'm sure a half dozen of them would clean up my tank in no time.

Now my figure 8 so far has only been fed those tiny pond snails about the size of his eyes. Would the Figure 8 go after the Olives which are about an inch in diameter? If so would he even be able to get through their shells?

Basically I'm trying to see if anyone has tried this before with success. Or perhaps someone has a better alternative.

He would probably go after them, but because of the nerite shell layout, be unsuccessful unless one fell and was laying on it's back. Then it would be lunchtime.

I added several a few months ago & I still see a few. Never bothered to take a head count though.

The Trochus snails (somewhat similar design, in that they aren't easily attacked) in my marine tank have held up pretty well against my 3 puffers. Only 1 of the 5 died, and it looks like it was because it fell off/flipped over.

I'd try a couple NERITE SNAILS, if you can spare them.


(Edit - Clarified what I meant)

Aren't those marine snails?

Removed

The nerite cant really get hurt unless it is flipped over.

Bleh, I didn't realize my last sentence was that unclear. Fixed the post to resolve the fact that I'm silly. ^_^

Sounds like eveyone has had decent luck with these snails.

True that if the snails do reproduce the puffer will keep them in check by devouring the baby snails.

I think I'll give it a shot. My tank is 30 gallons...so I'm guessing 6-10 snails. Or is that too many?

Anyone think my LFS would be able to get them or am I better off going online. Can you let me know who sells the Nerites online and doesn't charge like $40 to ship them?

I found a place online myself.

Took a little time as most places that came up in goggle wanted like $35-$40 for shipping or more.

But if anyone else is interested in getting some...go to http://www.wilmasthecause.org. Its very basic, but it works.

After reading through her site and receiving an email from her she seems like a great lady. Really takes good care of everything she breeds/grows. For us brackish folks she sells Java Fern and the Olive Nerite Snails.

The snails were a little more than some other sites at $2/each...but you can't beat the $8 shipping cost.

I'll let you know how the snails do with my Puffer.

Also, let us know how the transaction goes! It's always nice when people find reliable sites to purchase from.

I've see malaysian trumpet snails adapted to medium bracksih 1.015. You could give it a shot!

... man those MTS sure are durable.

Puffers have been known to chip/break their teeth on the very hard shells of MTS.

I agree...stay away from the MTS.

Unlike the Nerites (about the size of Nickel) MTS are small enough to fit in the puffers mouth, and I've heard the same thing; shells are so hard puffers chip their teeth. Also MTS breed like crazy...without a way to keep them in check, your tank can become over run quickly. And I'm not sure how well MTS would adapt to brackish water. I belive the Nerites are the only true brackish snails on the market right now.

I'll stick with the Nerites and let you know how it goes.

Olive Nerites are the only species that are more-easily bred (at least, compared to other Nerites). When you get yours, you might want to look into breeding them in a spare tank (or however you'd need to set it up).