I'm looking for a few Ramshorn Snails (not mystery snails) or olive nerites (or even an Ocotinclus if nothing else) to help with a brown algae problem.

From what I can tell, both Lincoln and Omaha local fish stores aren't going to stock such. Online it looks like I'm looking at a hefty shipping price.

Any ideas? Locally around Omaha or Lincoln or online?


Thanks,

Cindy

29 gallon freshwater
1 Buenos Aires Tetra "Grandpa" of 8 years
3 Albino Buenos Aires Tetra
6 Tiger Barbs
2 Zebra Danios
A couple of live plants in gravel with a little sand

Lots of ramshorns usually come in on plants that you buy but there is some that people specifically breed for color. If you can't find them on the plants you can usually find most of what you want at any online store or aquabid.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build + 62 other tanks.
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Thanks for the reply!

By Ramshorn snail I mean in the family of Planorbidae, not an Apple Snail (Ampullariidae).

I can't see how, if I bought a plant, I would be guaranteed to get a Ramshorn and not an apple snail (larger apple snails are reported to eat Ramshorns, and I want the Ramshorns for the brown algae control -- if I'm wrong, please let me know).

The one place I found the Ramshorn online had a snail for around $3 with around $30 shipping.

I was hoping for an alternative, maybe even a local one.


Thanks,

Cindy

ramshorns are a pest snail, applesnails you buy, but there are people that sell ramshorns. Nerites are great and won't multiply like ramshorns as they need salt water for the eggs to hatch.

__________________
SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build + 62 other tanks.
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

So the snails you get when you buy plants are almost always Ramshorns?

Thanks,

Cindy

yes

__________________
SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build + 62 other tanks.
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

...or Bladder Snails, they are a different shape but would do just as well for your purposes.

I recently purchased 2 tiger nerite snails from a Petco near here. So far, they have been thoroughly cleaning my 26 gallon bowfront and 5 gallon quarantine tank of most of the brown algae. These snails clean everything constantly from the glass, to the filter tubes even a sponge filter I have in the 26. They are reported to even eat hair algae, although I have not observed this yet.

A lot of people do not like Petcos, but this store seemed to carry quality products/fish. The snails were about $4.00 each, but well worth it my opinion. You might google aquarium/pet stores in you area and call before hand to avoid an unnecessary trip. When I go back, I'm thinking of getting a few more.

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26g freshwater- A variety of Tiger Barbs, 2 S. Am. Bumblebee catfish; 38g freshwater-3 fancy fantail goldfish, zebra danios; variety of snails