Many aquarists wonder whether thecochlear coils. To be happy with their appearance or immediately dispose of in any accessible way? They, like other shellfish, are only medics and too small to harm plants. In addition, they serve as a valuable source of feed for many species of fish, which naturally regulates the number of individuals.
Snail-coils (genus Planorbis) - this is freshwater mollusks.The size of the spirally twisted shell is small, up to 35 mm in diameter. Easily adapt to the environmental conditions (water temperature, pollution degree), breathe both air and oxygen dissolved in water.
Moving snails-coils in the aquarium with the characteristic for mollusks wide legs. Live on their own, regardless of all other processes occurring side by side.
This genus includes quite a few species,most of which are found in all natural water bodies. It is not recommended to run snails taken from nature into the aquarium, as they become carriers of dangerous diseases.
The most popular, among aquarists, are the following coil snails:
Aquarium coil snails Good for beginners, who want to make themselvesmollusks, but do not have the experience of caring for them. From the owner does not require special care, so you can focus on the precious plants and fish.
An important factor is the beauty of the shellsnails. When there is a shortage of calcium in the water, the growth of the shell slows down, propagation stops, defects appear on the surface of the "house". To prevent this, several large seashells should be placed on the bottom of the water area, or calcium introduced into the water bought at the pet store.
Dangerous neighbors for these molluscs arethe fish themselves. Young individuals become easy prey, even for guppies, not to mention large cichlids. They can quite eat an adult reel. The fragments of the shell of the fish simply spit out.
The most common is helminthic invasions.Coils serve as an intermediate host of parasites, which, leaving snails, migrate to fish. To reduce the risk of this disease, buy shellfish only from proven breeders.
Another parasite that appears in the aquariumtogether with live food, - aquarium leech. It penetrates the shell of the coil's coil and feeds on its blood. In order not to turn the aquarium into a hotbed of leeches, be sure to buy all the shellfish purchased and moved together with the plants, for a couple of weeks in quarantine - a small aquarium or jar.
For prevention, you can use saltbath. In a vessel, pour 400 ml of water and dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt, and then for 10 minutes shift into a solution of snails. Leeches at the same time leave the shell. In addition, in pet stores there is a special drug for removing leeches.
These molluscs are hermaphrodites, that is,each individual is capable of reproduction. In order to dilute this species, you will need only one coil-snail. Reproduction occurs by laying eggs on plant leaves.
Molluscs are extremely prolific, so oftenowners of aquariums grab at the head: what to do with so many coils? In fact, the number of underwater inhabitants should be regulated according to the volume of the aquarium. So, for every 8-10 liters of water there should be 5 coils each. A large population may not have enough food, and then they will take up plants.
There are many ways to keep the numbercoils under control. One of the simplest is the purchase of the Antsitrus catfish. They clean the walls of the aquarium from algae, and for one they eat mollusk caviar.
Fishes also support the balance of ecologicalsystem, eating young snails. If your aquarium has a global overpopulation, run barbs or cichlids, they can clear the territory in a matter of days.
Another effective way is to collectsnails with the help of a trap. This is a small metal mesh in which you put a banana peel, apples or potatoes. At night, it is left in the aquarium, and the next morning they pull it out with the coils. Catch can be used as a food for fish.
This is one side of the problem, but it happensthe opposite situation, when with all diligence the number of coils is reduced. Whether this disease or predators is to blame, the solution can be one: to collect a dozen individuals and place them in a separate aquarium or a jar. With abundant food and regular water changes you will be provided with a good offspring (do not forget about quarantine: in the first few weeks remove all snails that do not show activity). Already from here you can by parts populate them in a common aquarium.
In the absence of more efficient guardians of purity,such as an ampulla, unpretentious coil can quite cope with the function of the orderly. While maintaining a reasonable number in the aquarium, it will only be of use and will present many interesting moments during observations of its leisurely walks.
