Likewise, goldfish snails also have a peaceful behavior and can thrive in cold water. Snails also help in cleaning the tank by feeding on the algae. But can your goldfish and snail live together? Do goldfish eat snails? Let us find this below:
Goldfish prefer to eat small snails that fit in their mouth. Nerite snails will be ideal for your goldfish tank as they are good algae eaters and do not reproduce. Consider to quarantine your snails for 28 days before adding them to your goldfish tank to avoid any threat to your fish.
Let us dive into the article to know more about the types of snails goldfish do not prefer to eat. In addition to this, we will also discuss what do goldfish typically eat.
Contents
What do goldfish typically eat?
| Goldfish Diet | Serving Quantity | No. of times |
|---|---|---|
| Pellets | A pinch | 2 times a day |
| Mosquito larvae | 12-15 | 2-3 times a week |
| Leafy greens ( lettuce, kale, spinach) | A small piece of leaf | 3-4 times a week |
| Brine shrimp | One pinch | 1-2 times a week |
| Blood Worms | One pinch | 1-2 times a week |
| Zucchini (Blanched) | 1 small slice | 3-4 times a week |
Also read: What Do Goldfish Eat?
Do goldfish eat large snails?
Your goldfish do not prefer to feed on large snails as they will not fit in their mouth. However, goldfish eats everything that can fit in their mouth.
So, goldfish are not a threat to the large snails in your aquarium.
We also want you to know that if your goldfish is not starving, they will not prefer to feed on even smaller snails in your tank.
If you do not provide sufficient food to your goldfish, they will only eat the smaller ones in your tank.
Therefore, you must provide your goldfish with a healthy diet that includes leafy greens, broccoli, and live foods like brine shrimp and worms so that they can stay fit and healthy.
Can snails and goldfish live together?
Goldfish and snails can live together in the same habitat. But you should be aware of the type of snails you are adding to your goldfish tank.
Goldfish can eat everything that can fit in their mouth, so adding smaller snails will not be good. It will be best to add big-size snails like nerite and mystery in your tank as your goldfish will not be able to eat them.
Nerite and mystery snails are also good algae eaters and help maintain the tank’s balance. We also want you to know that nerite snails do not reproduce in freshwater, making them ideal for your goldfish tank.
Let us learn about some more types of snails your goldfish do not prefer to eat.
Also read: Can Goldfish Live With Guppy?
Types of snails your goldfish will not prefer to eat
Here are the types of snails your goldfish will not prefer to eat:
Ramshorn Snails
Ramshorn snails can be an ideal option for your goldfish tank as they will eat all the algae, waste, and debris from your goldfish tank.
Your goldfish also do not prefer to feed on these snails. The only drawback of adding these snails to your goldfish tank is that they reproduce a lot, so keeping their population controlled can be a challenge.
But your goldfish will feed on all the small snails once discovered.
Apple snails
Apple snails are also a good option for your goldfish tank as they are good tankmates. Apple snails are big and have a hard snail, making it difficult for your goldfish to eat them.
Likewise, your goldfish will not be able to eat them due to their size. It will be advisable to add apple snails in your tank when your goldfish are young so that they look at them as their tankmate and get along with the snails.
Melantho snails:
Melantho snails are also a good option for your goldfish tank as they are algae eaters and help maintain the tank’s balance.
Likewise, goldfish melantho snails can also thrive in cold temperatures, making them an ideal tankmate for your goldfish tank.
Goldfish do not prefer to feed on melantho snails. In addition to this, melantho snails have sparkling shells that lit well in the lights and give a beautiful look to the aquarium.
Mystery snails
Mystery snails are also an ideal option for your goldfish tank as they can grow up to 3 inches or bigger if kept in proper water conditions.
Goldfish do not prefer to eat mystery snails due to their size. Mystery snails are good algae eaters and help maintain the tank’s balance.
Likewise, ramshorn snails mystery snails also reproduce a lot, but they lay eggs above the water line, making it easy for you to eliminate them.
It will be advisable to add 2.5 gallons of water per mystery snail. Therefore we want you to know that mystery snails are good tank escapers, so a tight-fitting and secure lid is required to keep them safe.
Nerite snails
Nerite snails are also a good option for your goldfish tank as they are famous for their algae-eating capabilities.
These snails will also eliminate the algae accumulated in the tank’s glass. In addition to this, nerite snails do not reproduce in freshwater, making them an ideal option for your goldfish tank.
They have a peaceful behavior and can adjust with any fish. Nerite snails are big, so your goldfish are not a threat to them as they cannot fit in your fish’s mouth.
These are the snails you can add to your goldfish tank as your fish will not prefer to eat them. In addition to this, we want you to know that your goldfish will also not choose to feed on small snails if they are not starving.
Can snails transmit disease to your goldfish?
Snails can transmit disease to your goldfish, so it will be advisable not to place them directly in your goldfish tank after purchasing them from the pet store.
Instead, it would be best if you always quarantined your snail before adding them to the tank to prevent any threat to your goldfish.
All you need to quarantine your snail is
- A jar filled with water
- A stem of the rapid-growing plant
You will need a jar filled with water to quarantine your snail. You can then add a stem of a rapid-growing plant in the pot as it helps keep the water oxygenated and provide some tiny food particles for your snail to survive. Finally, place your snail in the jar for the next 28 days.
This quarantine period of 28 days helps detect whether the snail harbors any parasite that can cause harm to your goldfish. The parasites pass away on their own in a few days without a host.Â
You can then add your snail to your goldfish tank as now there is no risk of disease transmission.
Methods you can use to reduce snail population.
Here are the methods you can follow to reduce the snail population in your tank:
- First, it will help if you clean your goldfish tank from top to bottom.
- You can also apply some chemicals to make your snails pass away in the tank.
- Do not overfeed your goldfish because if you underfeed them, they will feed on the snails in the tank. Goldfish usually can eat small snails as it fits in their mouth. But they will avoid eating them if they are not hungry.
- You can also add an assassin snail in your tank as they prefer to feed on the small snails in the tank.
- You can also use snail traps to eliminate the snails from your goldfish tank.
The above are some methods you can follow to reduce the snail population from your goldfish tank.
Conclusion:
- Goldfish do not prefer to eat large snails like nitrite and mystery due to their size.
- Snails and goldfish can live together, but you must be aware of the snail you are adding to your goldfish tank.
- Goldfish do not prefer to eat even smaller snails when they are not starving.
- Snails can transmit disease to your goldfish.
- It will be advisable to quarantine your snail for 28 days before adding it to your goldfish tank.
Reference: NCBI