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	How much can one snail eat?
Satinandtat Hobbyist Posts: 54 Votes: 0 Registered: 11-Aug-2005	I redistributed the snails from my small "snail tank" to my other tanks so I could use that tank for something else. I put a golfball-sized apple snail in my planted 29G. I gave him a zucchini slice, which he devoured, hoping that he'd be less tempted to go after my plants if he were well fed. About an hour later, he'd started on my Amazon sword and finished almost a whole leaf. Am I going to wake up tomorrow and find all of my plants gone? I didn't think one snail would do much damage, but he seems pretty hungry...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
sham Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3369 Kudos: 2782 Votes: 98 Registered: 21-Apr-2004	It sounds like you have the type of applesnail that is definitely a plant eater. These guys have been known to strip even a large heavily planted tank completely clean in a few days or less. They'll even munch plastic plants in some cases. Applesnails can eat an amazing amount of food if you let them. They get by just fine on a lot less than what actually fills them up. With a big banquet laid out he probably will munch away for at least hours if not all night. These snails also get quite large. Around baseball size and will need a good sized tank.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
jasonpisani Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 5553 Kudos: 7215 Votes: 1024 Registered: 24-Feb-2003	Try to feed him some Lettuce leaves & surly he'll eat them & maybe leave the Plants alone. http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/ Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970. http://www.maltaaquarist.com
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
illustrae Fish Addict Posts: 820 Kudos: 876 Registered: 04-May-2005	Snails will eat whatever food is available to them, and because their digestive system is relatively simple, the food just keeps passing through, so a snial is never really "full" and doesn't know the meaning of "satisfied." I'm afraid your plants will probably be doomed if you leave the snail in there. There are mystery snails that don't eat plants, if you really want a snail in that tank. Otherwise, you're better off keeping this snail in a non-planted tank. Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
Satinandtat Hobbyist Posts: 54 Votes: 0 Registered: 11-Aug-2005	I guess I'll put him back in the other tank...I was hoping to clear it out and use it for something else, but I guess it's better than having him destroy my plants
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27


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