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So you know the tiny little snails that are commonly refereed to as pests? I'd really like to actually cultivate a lot of them for feeding purposes. Last time I tried I dropped about ten or so in the tank and Brixie ate all of them before they had a change to infect the tank. I'm considering using a small plastic storage container to cultivate them. I'm sure I can go to Petsmart/Petco and get five or so for free since they are just Pests after all. Anyone else do this or have any tips on this? I think it would be nice to have them for the general health of the tank as well.

I introduced wild snails to my tank because my turtles loved them.I have an fx6 full of them now. How many you want ?

I want a lot! I'd like to know a good way to breed them in a separate container and then introduce them into the Turtle environment, and still have some on reserve in case they go extinct in the Turtle tank. Last time I added them, they didn't last very long, Brixie killed them all pretty quick. I would like to get some tips from someone who regularly breeds them (I think they are called Ramshorn) as turtle food as well as a way to keep the tank clean. Mystery Snails are too expensive and just become turtle food quickly.

There is someone that breeds them. Can't remember who it is though? Just keep in mind they can get in your filter. Its not really a bad thing just something to keep in mind. I believe mine are the same snail your looking for. Small and black with a point at the rear of the shell?

Kansasslider wrote:There is someone that breeds them. Can't remember who it is though? Just keep in mind they can get in your filter. Its not really a bad thing just something to keep in mind. I believe mine are the same snail your looking for. Small and black with a point at the rear of the shell?

Nope. Ramshorns are the flat spiral ones.

I breed shrimp, and there's a forum for water invertebrates that talks focuses on shrimp and snail breeding:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=88

You will need to figure out exactly what kind of snails you are talking about. Some are easier to breed than others. Some need brackish water. If you are talking pest snails, you may mean pond snails.

Some snails, like the Malaysian trumpet or assassin snails I have with my shrimp, have shells tough enough, they can be dangerous.

The advantage of breeding your own in a separate container is that you pretty much guarantee no parasites.

Let us know how the project goes.

I will, I'll also take close pictures of them and keep them in a small container separate. I'll probably start with just the water that comes with the snails and maybe do minor exchanges later.

http://imgur.com/BeIQn4o

Anyone know what type of snails these are?

The generic term is pond snail, I believe.

But, that encompasses many different species. However, they are a pest snail, in the sense that they're hard to get rid of and breed easily. That's good news for your purposes.

They will eat algae or plants. You could use an algae flake food, or even lettuce. Hard water is good, because they need the calcium for growing their shell. I suspect you'll have little trouble breeding them, and they should be good for your turtle.

Keep us updated.

Can't really tell from the picture but looks like the ones I have. They stay pretty small and are abundant in Kansas. When you turn the snail over is the opening on the left side like this one?

I'm at work now, but they are a brown color. Tonight, I'll but some lettuce in the water. I'm currently still just using the water that came in the bag from Petsmart. Should I fill the container with water from the Aquarium Brixie is in? I don't have a tank, just a small container.

These little guys?

Yup, those are them! Do you breed them Steve?

Yep those are not like mine!

It's not my pic and I don't breed them. I thought these were called ramshorn. I had some eggs hitch a ride with some anacharis.

Steve's pic is ramshorn, but I'm not sure it's the same as yours. On a ramshorn, the spiral is flat. You can basically lay the shell on either side and it looks the same.

The spiral on your shell looks more like the shell shape kansasslider posted, even though the color is different, unless that one on the far left of your picture is a shadow.

In either case, I've read pond snails and Ramshorns are good snails for turtles. And pond snails should be easier to breed.