How do I safely remove unwanted snails from my 5.5-gallon fish tank?

You will need a cover or tank hood to prevent any snails from crawling up and out of the tank. Snails will lay eggs just above the water line, so you'll need to leave room for that as well. Quarantine, or keep them separate from the main tank, for at least two weeks in another tank. This is done to prevent the spread of bacterial infection or parasites.

The cone-shaped snails you are referring to are most likely Malaysian Trumpet Snails. A sustained population of Malaysian Trumpet Snails is supported by an abundant food source usually in the form of organic debris or sludge in the substrate. The green water algae can also be attributed to excess nutrients in your aquarium. If you haven't done so already, be in the practice of siphoning your substrate during every water change to remove trapped organic debris and prevent build up. While it maybe tempting to siphon your entire substrate bed, be sure to clean no more than 1/3 at a time to maintain a healthy population of beneficial bacteria that live in the substrate and make up a significant portion of your biological filter. Be sure to use a dechlorinator and a bacterial additive with each water change to ensure a healthy environment for your fish and biological filter. The population of Malaysian Trumpet Snails will diminish naturally over time as you reduce their food source. In addition to enhancing your maintenance regimen, consider the introduction of Assassin Snails for additional natural control. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=1075+3106&pcatid=3106

Yes, this is the right place! Nerite snails are common and popular in aqua-culture. Most species of snails will reproduce asexually, but nerites need a male and a female snail to reproduce. The female will lay eggs and the male will fertilize them. The good news is that they typically do not reproduce n a freshwater tank. Other species of snails may reproduce and overpopulate the tank. Most snails do not pose any risk of harm to fish. The snail pictured may have come in on live plants and no lives in your tank. You can remove it and discard it if you don't want it in there.

If you are referring to Mystery Snails, then 3 or 4 would be fine for that size tank. Some aquarists may recommend 1-2 snails per 5 gallons, but it depends on what else you plan on keeping in the tank.

Cricky may eat the eggs/baby snails. The best thing to do is either remove the eggs to a new tank, put in a breeding net and put the eggs there or provide decorations and hiding areas for the eggs/snails. Be fore warned that snail may reproduce quickly and they can over populate. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additonal questions.

The salt would probably irritate the snails. If you still have frogs in the tank, consider a salt bath instead. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt in 5 gallons of water then remove the frog(s) from the main tank and allow for a swim of no more than 60 seconds in the salt bath. Rinse then return them to the other tank or hospital tank.

Ich can only be killed in its free swimming stage. After it feeds off the fish, it drops into the substrate where it forms cysts and multiplies. Then the new ich parasites swim out of the gravel and find new fish hosts and start the cycle all over again. That is why it is important after all white spots have disappeared to continue treatment, you should continue treating for an additional 2 weeks after all symptoms are gone. After the spots disappear off the fish, I would vacuum the gravel to suck up any cysts. If you increase the temperature the life cycle of the ich becomes faster. Snails will be likely killed by the salt so it is best to remove them before treating. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.