If you are raising freshwater puffer fish, you probably already know that you need to feed them a crunchy diet to maintain their beak. However, it is not always easy to find the right size snails when you need them; that’s why raising your own Ramshorn snail colony offers a perfect solution.
Introduction to Ramshorn Snails for Freshwater Puffers
Depending on who you are talking to, ramshorn snails are considered pest snails or an excellent cleaning kit that will eat various types of algae and rotten food without eating. Many people discover them for the first time after buying live plants: “pest” snails are known to hitchhike into fish tanks through the purchase of new plants. Typically, those who consider them pests did not intentionally place them in their aquariums and wake up one morning in dismay to find hundreds of baby snails covering the glass of their fish tank.
Regardless of what you might consider them, ramshorn snails make an excellent feeding snail for freshwater puffer fish. Their shells are not as tough as Malaysian trumpet snails, they grow to a decent size and are very prolific breeders as long as they have access to adequate space and a reliable food source. There are several different colored varieties of ramshorn snails that have been developed by hobbyists, including different shades of red, brown, and blue; there are also some that have a spotted pattern.
Starting the Ramshorn Snail Colony for Freshwater Puffers
Supplies Needed:
- Ramshorn snail starter culture
- 10 Gallon Fish Tank Mount
- Dark green leafy vegetables, seaweed wafers
Because Ramshorn snails are hermaphroditic, you technically only need two to get started; I like to start with at least 10-20 because I am impatient. To keep a colony of ramshorn snails reproducing continuously, you will need to install at least a 10-gallon fish tank (or equivalent container). This should include a filter large enough to support the bioburden, and ideally an aquarium heater as well; You will still be able to raise them without a heater, however your snails will reproduce faster if you keep the water warm. Once you’ve got everything set up, toss your snails in, feed them nutritious foods like zucchini, spinach, and seaweed wafers, and then sit back and wait!
The best way to ensure that you always have a reliable source of crisp food available for your small to medium sized freshwater puffer fish is to raise your own snail colony. Make sure you allow your colony to establish itself before you start feeding your puffer fish; if you start too early, you will deplete your cologne and have to start all over again. Of all the snails I have tried to breed, the ram’s horn snails have been the easiest for me. I don’t consider them a pest snail, and even occasionally place some of them in the other setups of my fish tank to keep the gravel bed clean between water changes.
