Aquarium Snails - Problems & Solutions 

Aquarium snails can be a big problem if they are not handled from the very beginning. It multiply quickly and soon your aquarium will be full of snails, an eyesore to your aquarium.

Usually aquarium snails come from aquarium plants that we bought. Although no snail detected, snail-eggs can stick to bottom leaves and will hatch in your aquarium.

How to control Aquarium snails ?

• Using it's natural predator : Puffer fish (Tetraodon fluviatilis) and Botia (Botia macracanthus). But they can only eat snail-eggs and baby snails, while adult/big freshwater snails should be handled manually. Using these fishes finally will cut aquarium snails life cycle.
• Put sinking fish-food tablets in face-downward plate. Place it at the aquarium bottom and switch off your aquarium lamp. Soon, the plate will be full of snails. Lift the plate immediately. Do this technique several times to get maximum result. This technique won't work if you keep bottom-feeder fish like Corydoras or suckermouth fish like plecos, they will eat up your bait. 
• Put a slice of cucumber at the aquarium bottom, remove it after covered over by snails.  
• Use anti-snails products (chemicals). It will kill aquarium snails in groups. You should collect the dead snails immediately. The shells contain high calcium which can affect your water general-hardness, while the decomposed meat will increase ammonia and nitrite levels.
  
• Use automatic snail traps, simply use & without any chemicals.
  

Too many freshwater snails can become pest, but some species of freshwater snails are useful for algae eaters and substrate cleaners.