How to Identify and Control Snail Infestations in Your Aquarium
Noticed a sudden surge of tiny snails in your aquarium? These little invaders can multiply rapidly, covering your glass walls and décor, and even clogging filter intake tubes—leading to filtration problems that affect your fish and tank health.
Snails often hide buried in the gravel, emerging mostly at night to feed, so the visible population might just be the tip of the iceberg.
Step 1 – Use Natural Predators to Control Snails
Consider introducing a school of Loaches, popular snail-eating fish that help keep snail populations under control naturally. Ask your local fish store for advice on suitable species.
Step 2 – Manual and Maintenance Treatments
- Use a fish net to manually remove visible snail shells from your tank.
- Regularly clean your substrate with a gravel cleaner to reduce snail hiding spots and keep numbers down.
- Create a simple snail trap: place a piece of lettuce inside a clean glass jar filled with aquarium water, sink it to the bottom overnight, then remove the jar full of snails in the morning.