Terrarium cleaning staff

[Unnar Karl]

Hi

I have a 210 liter FBT tank with 6 toads and they poop quite a lot, i was wondering if i could get any snails or shrimps to help clean the water section of the tank to help maintain it ? I have a good filter and i do a 25% water change every 2 weeks
Any suggestions ?

[deranged chipmunk]

A bit depends on how much water is in the tank. Malaysian trumpet snails are a personal fav of mine. But they can over run a tank very quickly. Nerite snails will keep your water section clean and cannot breed in fresh water, so that is a good option. Shrimp will help, but may end up as a frog snack. If you have the volume, an otocinclus or two will help keep the tank clean.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[bsantucci]

A bit depends on how much water is in the tank. Malaysian trumpet snails are a personal fav of mine. But they can over run a tank very quickly. Nerite snails will keep your water section clean and cannot breed in fresh water, so that is a good option. Shrimp will help, but may end up as a frog snack. If you have the volume, an otocinclus or two will help keep the tank clean.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

Oto's are strictly algae though, won't touch any of the poop. MTS would be the only one I'd choose. If you don't add any food to the water they won't populate terribly. Nerites don't touch anything waste related either.

[deranged chipmunk]

That's true. My thinking was, if there is waste in the water, algae will soon follow. Guess I should have added that lol


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[bsantucci]

Hah, yeah that changes things and you're right, the nerites would be great for that if there is enough water. They like to leave the water often so that may pose a problem in a small basin.

I'd do MTS or even Ramshorns.

[deranged chipmunk]

The only problem with ramshorns is that they breed so ridiculously fast!! But they do make excellent cleaners.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[bsantucci]

I find that they produce as fast as the amount of food/waste they are able to consume. In a fish tank, yeah they and MTS will reproduce insanely fast, but in a tank like there where you're not feeding directly to the water column I'd think it would be fine.

I have a half land/half water tank with MTS, Ramshorns, and Bladder snails and all are at manageable levels and keep things in tip top shape. I don't put any food in the water aside from a few cichlid pellets for the amanos I have in there.

[flybyferns]

Great conversation
Welcome to FF, bsantucci
How about investing a few $$ in springtails and isopods !
It would be great to get some giant orange to reproduce in there.
Many of them will eventually 'evade' capture and avoid the lunch line
Microfauna: Isopods - Josh's Frogs How-To Guides for Reptiles & Amphibians

butterfly:

[Mentat]

What are your nitrate levels before 2 week water change? Imagine you could do 25% weekly and still that might not be enough depending on water volume and filter .

[Unnar Karl]

Wow thanks for all the replies
What is MTS short for ?
I´m really looking into something that eats the waste in the water.
The water volume is about 70-90 liters.
This tank is a breeding project so snails that eat poop would also eats eggs right ?

I will be doing weekly water changes from now on, i didn't have any access to water in my basement so water change was a pain, but i figured out a solution.

[flybyferns]

Wow thanks for all the replies
What is MTS short for ?
I´m really looking into something that eats the waste in the water.
The water volume is about 70-90 liters.
This tank is a breeding project so snails that eat poop would also eats eggs right ?

I will be doing weekly water changes from now on, i didn't have any access to water in my basement so water change was a pain, but i figured out a solution.

Sorry , I don't know ?
Maybe someone else does?

[deranged chipmunk]

Malaysian trumpet snail MTS


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela