Snails are a popular addition to many home aquariums. Not only are they fun to watch as they glide around the tank but they also help to keep the tank clean. Many aquarium hobbyists choose to add snails to their tank for this reason.
But how do snails clean a fish tank?
Snails are equipped with a radula which is a tongue-like structure that is covered in tiny sharp teeth. The radula is used to scrape algae and other debris off of rocks plants and other surfaces in the tank. This helps to keep the tank clean and free of algae growth.
In addition to the radula snails also have a pair of cephalic tentacles that they use to help them move around and find food. These tentacles are also equipped with tiny sharp teeth that can be used to eat algae and other debris.
Snails are generally most active at night when the lights are off and the tank is dark. This is when they will do the majority of their cleaning. During the day they sometimes hide in caves or under rocks to avoid being eaten by fish.
If you have snails in your fish tank you probably don’t have to do much cleaning yourself. The snails will help to keep the tank clean and free of algae growth. However it’s still a good idea to do a regular cleaning of the tank to remove any debris that the snails may have missed.
How often do you need to clean a snail tank?
Once a week should be sufficient.
