The Puffer Forum

Hi,

I currently have a tank with F8s and would love to breed snails for them. However, space is very limited and I don't have room for another tank inside, plus my GF would probably leave if she had to look at snails all day. The alternative I can see is putting a small tank in the shed (it's a brick shed so doesn't get that cold) but unfortunately there is no electricity supply there.

Are there battery powered lights and filters available? This is the only way I can think of achieving this. Or maybe someone has another ingenious way of running a tank!

The LFS are surprisingly mean and usually can't be bothered to sift through their tanks for snails for me!

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

Batteries could fail at any time and you could end up with major problems.
Insulation wouls be a problem too.
Electric to the shed would be the best way.
However I do not heat my snail tank or light it at the moment. I only have a small air powered sponge filter which you could get away with if you did regualar w/c

The only problem with putting power to the shed is that it's quite a distance from the house!

I use a back up "generator" for my tanks when the power goes out. It is just charged in the wall like a big huge battery and then can be used anytime. It would be great but only lasts about 24 hours or so (although when it is only hooked up to something like a filter, it lasts way longer) and then you have to charge it...so not the best for that set up but have you looked for something like this? Some kind of generator?

Yeah, I've seen some petrol powered generators available. But with the price of fuel as it is here at the moment it would probably be cheaper to build an extension to the house!

You could use a large computer UPS, as it should be able to power a small pump for quite a long time (even days I'd bet). You could also use a big car battery with a cheap power inverter for the same result.

I think you should rule out the shed.

I have a 5g snail tank for my F8s and it is very inconspicuous. A tank that small, you could put almost anywhere. In the cupboard under the bathroom sink. I have java moss in mine ,grows like crazy, snails love it, looks nice, hides snails from view, eliminates odour.

If you decide on the shed running power to it is not that difficult. I used to run an extension cord about 100 feet out to my shed in my old place. Running a wire with an outlet box also easy. I think you'll need a heater if the temp fluctuates. A drop to below 65 could start killing snails, plus production is much higher at 80.

If you think creatively you can find a place in the house for it. The shed long term will be more hassle than it's worth.