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My Discus tank's got a snail problem. They're everywhere, crawling on the glass, plants, even the filter. Tried picking them out manually but they keep coming back. Any ideas to control them without harming my fish? Tank's a 75 gallon, planted with driftwood, running a Fluval FX6, temp at 84°F, pH 6.8. Feed them beef heart mix twice a day, bloodworms once.

Snail populations usually explode when there's excess food. Since you're feeding beef heart and bloodworms, some might be sinking uneaten. Try cutting back a bit and see if that helps. Also, consider adding some Assassin Snails. They're safe with Discus and will hunt the pest snails. I've had success with them in my 90 gallon, same setup as yours.

Assassin Snails are a solid choice, but if you wanna go chemical-free, try blanched zucchini or cucumber on a fork. Leave it overnight, and by morning it'll be covered in snails. Just remove and repeat. Works in my 120 gallon, heavily planted, CO2 injected. My Discus don't mind the veggies, but the snails go nuts for them.

Yo, snail traps are a thing too. You can DIY one with a plastic bottle and some sinking pellets. Cut the top off, invert it, drop in food, and sink it. Snails crawl in but can't get out. Did this in my 55 gallon, cleared up the issue in a week. Just gotta stay on top of it, ya know?

buzzit wrote: ↑Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:11 am Snail populations usually explode when there's excess food. Since you're feeding beef heart and bloodworms, some might be sinking uneaten. Try cutting back a bit and see if that helps. Also, consider adding some Assassin Snails. They're safe with Discus and will hunt the pest snails. I've had success with them in my 90 gallon, same setup as yours.

Agreed. Overfeeding's the main culprit. I'd also check your filter for trapped food. My FX4 had a ton of gunk fueling my snail problem. Regular maintenance helped a lot.

If you're okay with fish, Clown Loaches are great snail eaters. But they need a bigger tank long-term. For now, manual removal and reducing food might be your best bet. My 65 gallon had the same issue, and patience was key.

I've used copper-based treatments in the past, but they're risky with sensitive fish like Discus. Wouldn't recommend unless you're desperate. Stick to natural methods like Assassins or traps. My 75 gallon's snail-free now after introducing a few Assassins and being stricter with feeding.

Snails ain't all bad, tho. They clean up algae and leftover food. But if they're outta control, yeah, gotta cut 'em back. Try a combo of traps and Assassins. My 80 gallon's balanced now, with just a few snails left. Discus seem happier too, less competition for food.

For a quick fix, try a lettuce leaf weighted down overnight. Remove it in the morning, snails and all. Repeat daily. Works like a charm in my 100 gallon, and it's harmless to the Discus. Just don't let the lettuce rot in there.

Snails are a pain, but they're part of the ecosystem. If you're not overfeeding, they'll balance out. My 50 gallon had a boom, but now it's stable. Just gotta ride it out sometimes.