Can someone sort out conflicting information for me?
I've been told a few things about MTS.
#1: They are excellent sand sifters and will multiply like crazy and eventually your tank will be overrun. However, loaches will keep them under control so as to prevent a population explosion.
#2: MTS have an operculum so loaches are unable to get to the snails to eat them.
#3: They are nocturnal and stay buried under the substrate and only come out at night looking for food.
I think I can safely say #3 is not correct. I was in my LFS this weekend and the 200 gal display tank was overrun with these snails and the snails were happily moving about in broad daylight. The keeper of this tank said I'd be crazy to let these snails loose in my tank. He said once you have them in a tank you NEVER get rid of them unless you break down the tank. He also told me he's never seen loaches eat MTS due to the presence of the operculum, but that they scarf down pond snails.
I have sand substrate and was considering using the snails as my sand stirrers. My loaches are still very small. The clowns are 1" and the yoyos are 2 to 3".
I do not want a tank overrun with these snails.
So, my question is: Do I keep the snails or ditch the idea completely??
The snails are in an aerated tub until I decide what do to....
I've been told a few things about MTS.
#1: They are excellent sand sifters and will multiply like crazy and eventually your tank will be overrun. However, loaches will keep them under control so as to prevent a population explosion.
#2: MTS have an operculum so loaches are unable to get to the snails to eat them.
#3: They are nocturnal and stay buried under the substrate and only come out at night looking for food.
I think I can safely say #3 is not correct. I was in my LFS this weekend and the 200 gal display tank was overrun with these snails and the snails were happily moving about in broad daylight. The keeper of this tank said I'd be crazy to let these snails loose in my tank. He said once you have them in a tank you NEVER get rid of them unless you break down the tank. He also told me he's never seen loaches eat MTS due to the presence of the operculum, but that they scarf down pond snails.
I have sand substrate and was considering using the snails as my sand stirrers. My loaches are still very small. The clowns are 1" and the yoyos are 2 to 3".
I do not want a tank overrun with these snails.
So, my question is: Do I keep the snails or ditch the idea completely??
The snails are in an aerated tub until I decide what do to....