Despite being a hardy and versatile species to add to your tanks, snails can end up being a nuisance for aquarists. Among the most worrisome problems, snails laying eggs uncontrollably is arguably one of the things that piss off tank owners the most.
So, what is it about Nerite snails eggs removal that you need to know? And how to do it correctly without harming other fish? Let’s have a look at the article below to learn more about this!
Contents
A Detailed Guide to Nerite Snail Eggs Removal
If you look closely at your tank, you will see small, white spots scattered around on all surfaces. Nerite snail eggs are more like cocoons that capture up to 100 eggs per capsule, waiting to be hatched by their parents.
Given their tiny appearance, it is no surprise why many people fail to pay attention to Nerite snail eggs. However, if you do not get rid of them on time, these eggs will end up spreading all around your aquarium.
Now, there are two ways in which you can eliminate these eggs.
The first one is to scrape all the infected surfaces using your own hands. Granted, this might be a bit too time-consuming and it surely is not appealing to most people. Still, manual removal has proven to be among the most efficient when it comes to egg removal.
All you have to do is to put on a pair of gloves and start scraping whatever surface is filled with eggs. Consider using a knife, blade, or algae scraper to help with the work. Make sure the material is stainless so that it does not get rusty and affects other fish inside the tank.
Once you have scraped the visible surfaces, it is time to tackle the tank’s bottom. Things are a bit easier here since all you have to do is to use a sand gravel shovel. Shove this tool against the bottom and start digging it up.
Or, if your tank is small-sized, you might want to switch to a spoon instead.
The second approach regarding Nerite snail egg removal is to cleanse the driftwood and other decorative pieces. As mentioned above, snail eggs usually get stuck to these objects. Hence, consider moving them out of the tank and start cleaning them under running water.
You can start by boiling the entire thing and waiting for the eggs to be dissolved. Or, if you happen to have strong bleaching agents or other powerful chemical substances, wash the egg-infected objects thoroughly.
This way, you can be 100% sure that all of the eggs are gotten rid of.
How To Prevent Nerite Snail Eggs
Precaution is always better than treatment. In the case of Nerite snail eggs, there are two ways for you to minimize their chances of reproduction.
You can kick off by separating female and male Nerite snails since they need one another to push out eggs. Unlike other asexual snails, Nerite snails rely on the males to fertilize the eggs while the females take care of birthing the capsules.
As a result, you might need to keep these male and female individuals apart from one another.
If you have a large enough tank, feel free to put these snails at two far ends. Or, if the tank is rather small, dividers would come in handy. Simply putting up some mesh dividers to create different sections of the tank so that the males and females cannot come across one another.
If you are a bit more extreme and do not wish to risk letting these snails reproduce, you might want to prevent yourself from buying female Nerite snails in the first place.
First off, the lack of female snails means there will be no eggs laying around. And secondly, male Nerite snails are enough entertainment for aquarists.
There is no need to have both female and male Nerite snails if they come at the expense of overpopulating your tank.
FAQs
How many eggs does a Nerite snail lay?
Nerite snails can lay eggs endlessly and repeatedly. It is almost impossible to keep track of how many eggs are laid in a day. However, experts estimate that each capsule fertilized by male Nerite snails consists of at least 30 eggs and at most 100 eggs.
Depending on the water conditions and whether they are well-fed or not, the number of eggs nested inside these cocoons will vary.
What eats snail eggs in the fish tanks?
Several species are more than happy to feed on snail eggs. These include tank cleaners such as striped fish or clown loaches.
Even small fish like bettas can make a meal out of these snail eggs. Or, in case you wish to go for a safe choice, using goldfish and pea puffer is also recommended.
Do Nerite snails reproduce fast?
Yes. Nerite snails reproduce surprisingly fast if they are placed in a favorable habitat. Still, this could only occur if both female and male Nerite snails are present inside a tank.
This is because these animals do not reproduce asexually, hence the need for an opposite-sex partner. Therefore, if you want to control their reproductive rate, all you need to do is to separate the two sexes.
Conclusion
Now that you have learned about Nerite snail eggs removal, it is time to apply the knowledge to real life. Make sure you follow the tips and tricks above carefully so that you can keep your tank free of Nerite snail eggs.
Alex is a pet freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience. He attended Colorado State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, which was where he first got some experience in animal nutrition. After graduating from University, Alex began sharing his knowledge as a freelance writer specializing in pets.
