What is the best supplement food for snails?

[mlovelace]

Hello, I was curious if there is something good to give the snails to eat if the tank seems pretty clean. I would not want them to die off and enjoy watching them, as much as we do the fish.

I was reading that Nori Seaweed is good, but I also read it could hurt fish if they ate it (due to not knowing what is really in it the product)?

Thank you, Mike

[ToddTT]

What kind of snails do you have? How many?

Got pics?

Do you have rock in your tank? And how long do you keep your lights on?

What foods are going into your tank already?

[mlovelace]

What kind of snails do you have? How many?

Got pics?

Do you have rock in your tank? And how long do you keep your lights on?

What foods are going into your tank already?

Hello Todd, I am cycling right now, but plan on putting a clean up crew in soon. I am basing my post off what I have read with others. I have a 75g tank, keep the lights on for 5 hours (T-5's), and have about 80 lbs of rock in my tank. Right now, the brown algae is in the tank, but not too bad. I had freshwater tanks for years and loved watching the snails. I am curious what others use or the fact they don't use anything for food supplements for snails. Once finished cycling, I will probably start out with several damsels and work my way to the clownfish. I don't plan on putting anything big or expensive starting out, before I am feeling more comfortable about the water conditions. I did notice my PH was 7.8 last weekend when I did my water checks. I was thinking the PH should be up around 8.2? I am probably getting the cart in front of the horse, but want to make sure I have my bases covered before adding a clean up crew. I really like the looks of the Mexican Turbo Snails, but I know there are many other different snail breeds. I plan on using flake food for the damsels.

Thank you, Mike

[ToddTT]

Don't add any fish until the water stabilizes. It can fluctuate a lot early on. No sacrificial fish, as your LFS may try to sell you on. Your rock is enough for now.

Yep, 78 is low for your PH.

Most snails will survive happily on algae and detritus. I have a 75 gallon with flourescent lights and 4 turbo snails. A small amount of live rock, and their work is never done.

The best bet will be to do things slowly. Want snails? Add a few. Not enough? Add a couple more in a few weeks, or a month.

Realize that some snails will be the food, if you choose certain fish. Reseach everything you put in your tank... before you bring it home.

Watch out for medications and treatments for various diseases and parasites. Most of them will kill your snails in a hurry if they are exposed to these.

[leebca]

Depends on the kinds of snails you have. If they are herbivores, some algae pellets are okay, or macro algae. If they are carnivorous, then they want bits of shrimp tail (raw), scallop meat, etc.

You can get some other ideas here: Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium