General Care Discussion :: Snails and turtles?

[sam 'n ella]

I am considering buying an algae eater or some snails to help reduce the algae in my turtle tank. I've heard that turtles will eat both, and also that they will eat neither. Anyone actually tried algae eaters or snails with turtles? And have they lived or no? I'm leaning towards snails as they are cheaper...

[jenaero]

I've never bothered with algae eaters, as it's never been a problem for me.

I've had snails on several occasions.. They bred like crazy and there were eggs everywhere.. even in the filter.. I eventually got sick of it and took all the plants and decor out of the tank so the turtles could eat all the snails.. and they did!

[Diamondbacks4Life]

i had both, and both were eaten in a day or two.

[vic021]

i had snail i didnt bother wit buying the nice snails i when to pets smart and got those "pest snails" for free like 40 of them tossed them in half where eaten right away by turtles other bred and then where eaten and i still have pleanty i think my turtles are smart enogh to know that to leave a few alive means more snails l8r cuz they never eat them all and they actually do a good job cleaning its just pet stores consider them pest because there not pretty and breed like crazy

[SINI5T3R]

I use Chinese Algae Eaters (CAE's) and there VERY quick. Ive had them in my tank for about a month now and the turtles cant even catch them and now that the CAE's know there are turtles in the tank there pretty good about staying away from them.

[imderanged]

I had a Pleco, but he was eaten. I had Otocats in my goldfish tank and the goldfish TRIED to eat him but got his spike stuck in his throat. Ever since then I have avoided Plated or Spined fish on the off chance it could cause an injury or choking. I think snails would probably get eaten too, I gave Pickle some tiny ones once and he ate them. If you do get snails, Apple snails are a good species, because they don't reproduce by "budding" they lay eggs above the waterline that are easily seen and removed, so they won't overrun your tank.

[LadyMiracle]

I am considering buying an algae eater or some snails to help reduce the algae in my turtle tank. I've heard that turtles will eat both, and also that they will eat neither. Anyone actually tried algae eaters or snails with turtles? And have they lived or no? I'm leaning towards snails as they are cheaper...

Ok this is weird. I almost named my two turtles Sam and Ella AND I just brought home a water snail the other day and they ate it. completely cleaned out the shell and it was a huge snail lol

[roseK]

my turtle loves snails. loves the crack the shells open and clean them out. i had a pleco live for a year before it was killed.

and i wouldnt reccommend chinese algae eaters. when they are full grown they change their diet and will not eat algae anymore. and tend to be very aggressive. but the aggression is usually towards fish, ive never heard anything about them attacking turtles.

[elwray]

My turtle has eaten Apple Snails.... and every once in a while I'll throw in the extra "pest snails"/bladder snails from the planted tank I have. I've never noticed the turtles eating them, but they do seem to disappear, shell and all....

[fingaz]

any snail or algae eater I have ever gotten for the tank hasn't lasted for more than a day and most times they are eaten almost instantly.

One time, I bought 2 snails for the tank. I put them in, walked away from the tank and when I came back to the tank, all that was left was "crumbs" or pieces of snail shell. the turtle ate the whole thing, shells and all.

[mikee]

Sliders will eat any fish, snail, crawfish, etc. and they don't give a wit about saving a couple to propagate a species.

[amylawton]

Mine love to eat snails, any snails will do but we have 3 apple snails the size of golfballs that cruise around unharrassed by the turtles. My turtles are large but not large enough to bite them. Ive watched a snail climb up over a turtle who was in its way.