Has the tank ever been medicated? We respect your privacy. However, Bettas only go on a hunger strike when I change the water or introduce them to a new tank. Once the snail leaves his territory, things should go back to normal again! While your betta fish may occasionally eat small hatchling snails, the shells of juvenile or adult snails are too hard for your betta fish to chew through. While theyre not as good at cleaning the tank as some of the other snails on this list, they can still help to keep the tank clean by eating algae and detritus. One of the best things about Japanese Trapdoor Snails is that theyre not known for being escape artists. Yes, some bettas, especially males, can be aggressive toward their tankmates. Keeping mystery snails isnt complex as long as theyre adequately fed. For example, some snails are better at eating algae than others. So they will most likely eat the snail in their tank. Not to often Id say maybe every 8-10 days as long as you dont over feed with wafers. The Siamese fighting fish, better known as the betta fish, is a popular pet fish that can be found in a range of different colors and fin types. Mystery snails require a similar water pH at 7.0-7.5, temperature between 68-82 degrees fahrenheit, and regular day and night cycles just like your betta fish. They dont need a lot of calcium in their diet, so theyre a good choice for tanks with soft water. Assassin snails prefer eating meat, but they can also survive on a diet of algae and plants. The content of this website is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Hopefully, you will be able to create a nice environment of bettas and snails together. Bettas arent typically passive fish and will also attack snails when they arent well-fed. So what is the alternative to buying more fish tank mates for bettas? As well as this, it can often be that the betta is only attacking a snail because he feels theyre in his territory. If you are wanting to feed snails to your betta fish, keep in mind that snails arent the best snack for betta fish, and your betta should be eating a staple pellet food specifically formulated for betta fish, alongside freeze-dried or live foods like worms or crustaceans. So keeping a sand or other light substrate into your betta fish tank is the best choice for these snails. In fact, I can personally attest to this. I have a mystery snail and, Nerite doing his job. Can Betta Fish Live With Snails? Apple snails are a popular snail species among aquarium hobbyists, but there are many fishkeepers who say theyre not suitable for a Betta tank. The tank does have some seed shrimp and freshwater limpets, hydra and a nerite snail. In fact, their minimum preferred pH is already on the high end of a Bettas optimal pH range. I also started to notice some algae on his glass, so I put in 2 of the small pond snails from my 20g. One of the best ways to reduce the chance of your betta attacking your snails is to add a lot more decorations to your tank, especially plants. They are Nerite eggs and no, the fish won't touch them. Betta fish eat zooplankton, insect larvae, and tiny crustaceans in the wild. AquariaCentral.com, a division of Monster Aquaria Network, LLC. The substrate is Carribsea moonlight sand and fluval plant&shrimp stratum. The nerite snail is a freshwater snail that can be kept in most tanks. Snails can be beneficial to your betta fishs aquarium as they eat excess food and even nibble on algae that are growing on surfaces in the aquarium. 6 years ago. Your email address will not be published. This includes understanding what type of snail is best for your betta, as well as acclimating both the snail and the betta to each other before adding them to the same tank. She also keeps hamsters and a tarantula and wishes to provide quality content for readers and allow others to learn from her knowledge and experience. They top the list in terms of reproduction activity, as they can steadily reproduce once well-fed and tank conditions are ideal. However, whether a betta will eat a snail or not also depends on the fishs temperament. Bettas prefer foods of animal origin, such as daphnia, bloodworms, and brine shrimp, and they like to feed on the surface. Whether your betta is going to attack your snail or not is going to be entirely dependent on their personality. My betta, Pomegranate, has been eating pond snail shells. It is far more difficult to consume larger snails. This is why its important to acclimate them slowly when you add them to your tank. One betta might tolerate the snails just fine. Secondly, even if your Betta is interested in eating snails, theyre not likely to be able to eat a full-grown adult snail. Clean up uneaten food and waste. Assassin snails reproduce slowly and can still survive on the food in your tank, meaning you can keep them even when you dont have snails in your tank. I wouldn't be too quick about removing them. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. However, theyll produce as much waste themselves. Therefore, if you intend to house these species together, you should ensure that the snails are capable of reproducing and surviving in the same tank conditions as the betta. Just remember to keep the betta well-fed, understand its temperament and make sure the snail is on the larger side. They also consume soft algae, which is good to keep your aquarium algae free. 2005-2019 Monsterfishkeepers.com. The information and material found on this website is intended to be used as general guidelines. They come in a variety of colors, including red, brown, and green. I would only keep assassin snails when theyre needed, as the betta fish might consider them a threat due to their size. On the plus side, the snail is an opportunistic eater, meaning it will eat whatever you are feeding the Betta. Theyre fun to watch and they add a lot of interest to your tank. I ended up putting in a nerite for him, and for the first few days he would follow it very closely around the tank and occasionally try to bite it. Betta Care Fish Guide is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. When you purchase hardy snails for your tank, theyre more likely to survive in the tank with the betta. Yes, bettas are very likely to eat the snail eggs in your tank. Is this normal? Generally, snails that are too big for your betta to eat will be safe. This means that you dont have to worry about them crawling out of the tank and ending up on the floor. If your Betta is well-fed, theyre not likely to be interested in snacking on a snail. I feed him bloodworms (the only thing he'll eat) every other day, so it's not like he ate the snails out of starvation. Bettas do chase snails sometimes, but they usually wont do any damage to a nerite, but they can bite off a mystery snail antennae. For instance, you might want to keep a couple of ramshorns with your Betta fish along with an assassin to help keep the population under control. What is more, Ramshorn snails are perfect for tanks that dont have too much vegetation in it. If you do decide to add this snail to your tank, be prepared to deal with a potential infestation down the road. Everything You Need To Know. If you want to have a carnivore snail to control your existing snail population, look no further than the assassin snail. I havent decided yet. Overall, snails and betta fish can live together in the same aquarium without harming each other, and the snails shell offers them protection from being eaten by a betta fish. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'aquariumlabs_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_14',142,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aquariumlabs_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'aquariumlabs_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_15',142,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aquariumlabs_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0_1');.mobile-leaderboard-2-multi-142{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:600px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Large snails with pronounced eyes (that resemble worms) should not be kept in the bettas tank, as your betta might attack their eyes. These precautions will help you retain at least some snail population even if the betta eats some of the snails. If the betta only pecked at him once, your betta should get bored and move on, Nerite snails have antenna, butYeah, I agree with dch48. 25 Fish/Critters That Can Eat Betta Food (& 2 That Dont)8 Reasons Why Your Betta Stays At The Top Of The Tank (+Fix)4 Reasons Why Betta Fish Spits Food Out (+ How To Fix). Ok honestly for the snails half a gallon to 1 gallon is perfect. Rabbit snails, also sometimes known as elephant snails, are a bit different than your average snail. They are pretty fantastic as algae eater, and by eating dead plants, old food, they can do a severe duty of keeping the tank spotless. Another tip for the peaceful coexistence of betta fish and snails is to buy hardy snails. I have an. Then go about their business. The most she'll do is peck at them and they just fall to the substrate. 25 Fish/Critters That Can Eat Betta Food (& 2 That Dont), 8 Reasons Why Your Betta Stays At The Top Of The Tank (+Fix), 4 Reasons Why Betta Fish Spits Food Out (+ How To Fix). Theyre easy to care for and theyre great at keeping the tank clean. Bettas eat snails especially if the snail is smaller than the Betta and they live in the same tank. JavaScript is disabled. Required fields are marked *. Bettas are incredibly aggressive fish, which has earned them the name: 'Siamese fighting fish'. Today, my betta fish had disappeared over the night. Nerites are well armored and protected unless they get turned on their backs. Its weird because my betta doesnt flare at all. Subscribe TO GET POSTS DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX! Rabbit snails are quite big. JavaScript is disabled. If you note that your betta displays traits of aggressiveness, its in your best interest to avoid keeping them with other tank mates. However, this is only a sign of their curiosity, and they may not actually eat the snail. should i be concerned . Introducing snails first to the tank is another tip to limit the risk to the snails. Malaysian Trumpet snails are notorious pest in the aquarium hobby. One of the main concerns people have about adding snails to a Betta fish tank is whether or not the Betta will eat the snail. You can also keep plants in your tank to provide ample hiding places for your snails, as the betta cant eat what it doesnt see. Since they like burrowing in the substrate, they improve aeration and even benefit your live plants. To reduce the chances of the betta attacking your snail, ensure your betta is properly fed at all times.