Snails are found in almost any aquarium. Moreover, the owner does not always buy these mollusks consciously. Most of them appear completely unexpectedly, getting into the aquarium along with plants, soil or water. What are aquarium snails for?
Instructions
Step 1
Any aquarium needs constant cleaning of walls, stones and various shelters from plaque appearing on its walls. It is also necessary to clean the soil from food residues, fish excrement, and rotten parts of aquarium plants. Aquarium snails are very successful in this task.
In addition, snails serve as a kind of indicator of the contamination of the aquarium. For example, too many of these acroluxes indicates a good food supply. Therefore, it is highly likely that you regularly overfeed fish, and uneaten food settles to the bottom.
Step 2
Small aquarium snails, as well as their eggs, serve as a delicacy for fish. Molluscs, like plants, help maintain stability in the closed biological system of an aquarium.
Some types of molluscs, such as melania, which are one of the most popular species of aquarium snails, constantly loosen and drain the soil. This prevents the development of anaerobic zones and, as a result, prevents the formation of hydrogen sulfide. Melanias do not have lungs - they breathe with a gill. If in the water of your aquarium, and therefore in its soil, a lack of oxygen begins to be felt, then snails feel this first, even before the amount of harmful substances that is dangerous for fish accumulates.
If you notice that your melanias have left the ground and are crawling along the walls of the aquarium, it's time to take drastic measures. It is necessary to change the water and enhance its filtration and aeration, siphon the soil.
Step 3
The presence of different types of snails will add a special flavor to your aquarium. Thinking over its design, do not forget about these mollusks.
However, it should be remembered that aquarium snails have the ability to reproduce very quickly. With a lack of food, mollusks can begin to eat young plants. Also, overpopulation can cause the problem of lack of oxygen in the water. Therefore, the number of snails must be kept under control.
