When you imagine owning a fish tank, your instant thought is to imagine it filled with a range of fish species. But experienced aquarists will tell you that there are a huge variety of other creatures you can keep in your tank. Invertebrates and molluscs are just some examples of these.
However, if you are going to keep goldfish with snails then it is important that you choose the right kinds as putting an incorrect mix together could lead to problems.
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Can I Keep Snails With Goldfish
It is possible to keep snails and goldfish together but one of the most common problems is that the fish will attack the snails and attempt to eat them. But this doesn’t apply to all species. It is important that, if you intend to keep goldfish with snails, you purchase molluscs that will grow large enough that the fish won’t try to eat them.
The problem with goldfish is that they aren’t fussy eaters and will have a go at eating anything that they can get into their mouths. It can be easy to assume that the goldfish won’t want the hassle of having to extract the snail from the shell but for smaller species, this isn’t too much of a problem for your goldies to work out; despite what is said about their level of intelligence and memory, they are relatively smart fish.
But, let’s keep things in perspective. A goldfish isn’t going to go to the trouble of trying to deshell a snail if it doesn’t need to. You see, a well-fed goldfish who lives in excellent conditions won’t feel the need to attack other tank life, especially since they are very fond of the fish flakes or pellets that you offer to them. So, provided you keep your goldies tummy full, he will probably leave the snails alone.
One final thing to consider is that a goldfish won’t hold back as much if the snail is dead. Once deceased, the goldfish will make a quick meal out of the snail. Provided that it hasn’t begun decaying, this isn’t too much of a problem and not something that you should overly worry about.
What Are The Best Snails To Keep With Goldfish?
There are several snail species that you can keep with goldfish without any issues. That said, there are two that really work well and these are the ones we are going to cover in a little more detail. The nerite snail and the mystery snail are widely considered to be the best pairing for goldfish. Before we look at these more closely, take a look at the list below to see some other potential tank mates for your goldies.
- The rabbit snail is a good choice for a goldfish tank since it is a very large species that your fish will likely not attack. Moreover, they sometimes go by the name ‘elephant snail’ so if you were in any doubt, this should quell your concerns.
- The Japanese trapdoor snail has a ‘trapdoor’ on its shell which it can open and close to protect it from danger. Should your goldfish attack, the snail is equipped to defend itself.
- The ivory snail is excellent at escaping danger and doesn’t move around the tank a lot. This is likely to draw less attention from the goldfish, keeping the snail much safer.
Nerite Snails
One of the great things about the nerite snail is that it comes in a huge array of patterns and colors. If you are looking to create a vibrant tank with a lot of variety then this is a great reason to select this snail. Of course, we are here to learn about how well certain snails pair with goldfish, and the nerite is one of the most ideal companion species.
In addition to this, the nerite snail is excellent for keeping your tank free from algae. Out of all of the freshwater snails, this is one of the most effective, hence why it is such a popular choice. In fact, these snails are so good at removing algae that you’ll find it is pretty much non-existent!
The nerite snail will also be advantageous in keeping your aquarium plant life free from algae which will stop leaves from becoming suffocated. As a direct result of this, the aquarium plants will be better able to complete photosynthesis; it’s a win-win for everything and everyone in the tank.
However, aquarists must keep in mind that you should never add more than one nerite snail per gallon as this will create problems. The good thing is that these snails don’t typically risk becoming overpopulated since they are unable to reproduce effectively. The issue is that, while they will lay eggs, it is unlikely that they will ever hatch since the goldfish will feed on them.
Zebra Nerite Snails
It may surprise you to learn that you can source just about anything online if you need to and snails are no exception. These zebra nerite snails provide your tank with an eye-catching addition with their gold and black stripes.
Large in size and growing up to 4cm, the zebra nerite snails are unlikely to become a meal for your goldfish and they can be purchased individually or in packs of up to 10 snails. What’s great is that this is a very easy to keep species and is a great choice for people who are just getting used to taking care of a freshwater tank.
Originally, these snails come from countries in the east of Africa and are typically found in areas where freshwater and saltwater begin to combine. However, they tend to thrive better in freshwater which is why they are commonly found in this type of aquarium over a saltwater setup. That said, if you want to breed them, this is only possible in brackish conditions.
Mystery Snails
One of the biggest problems faced by hobby aquarists is that snails can quickly overpopulate the tank and take over. This can lead to many people being put off keeping them but when choosing mystery snails, you have something of a degree of control over breeding. This is because, unlike most other snail species, the are not asexual. In essence, you will need at least one of each gender in order for them to breed so if you can control whether you buy males or females, you’ll have a handle on overpopulation from the get-go.
To begin with, when they are first introduced to the tank, you may notice that your goldfish try to eat the mystery snails. But don’t let this make you think that you have made the wrong decision. This is entirely normal and the snails will simply hide in their shells until the goldfish get bored. Once the fish realise that they aren’t going to make a meal out of the snails, they will look elsewhere for food and a community balance will be established within the tank. Moreover, the mystery snail has such a large shell that the goldfish would struggle to fit it into their mouths.
What’s also great about the mystery snail is that they are a generally healthy animal that won’t infect the rest of the tank community with any kind of disease.
Again, these snails are algae eaters and while they may not keep the tank quite as clean as the nerite snail, they’ll give it a good go.
Just like the nerite snail, the mystery snail is available in a huge selection of colors and patterns. Once again, this is perfect for people who want to create as visually diverse a tank as possible. There are striped ones or those that come in a single, yet vibrant color. However, unlike the nertie, the mystery snail does need a little more space and so we would recommend only stocking one snail per 2.5 gallons.
Aquatic Arts Blue Mystery Snail
These beautiful blue mystery snails are ideal for heavily planted freshwater tanks as they won’t cause a problem for the plants and yet will do a great job at keeping the aquarium free from algae. They are an active snail and are excellent for observation, never giving you a dull moment.
The blue mystery snails are one of the largest species of snail for freshwater tanks and can grow up to 2 inches once they reach adulthood. They are super easy to keep and won’t cause any issues for the other tank members. The only thing that you should keep in mind is that they may not live harmoniously with smaller snail species as they have been known to try to eat these.
Much like the nerite snails we looked at earlier, these blue mystery snails can be brought as individuals or in groups of up to 30, depending on the size of your aquarium.
How To Take Good Care Of Your Snails
One of the great things about adding snails to your tank is that they are incredibly easy to care for. Of course, they are algae eaters so will feed heavily on this but they also need additional nutrition which can be given in the same way that you feed your fish. They are partial to fish flakes and pellets so you don’t need to worry about buying separate foods for them. Additionally, if you feed vegetables to your goldfish, the snails will clear up any leftovers, providing another way to keep your tank and water fresh and clean.
The only real threat to the health of your snails is copper. While this is not typically an element that you would check for when testing the water parameters for your fish, it is something that you should periodically check for when keeping snails. If there are high levels of copper in the water, this can be fatal for your little gastropods. Should you find that there is a problem, there are products that can be added to remove copper as well as chlorine from the aquarium water.
Conclusion
Goldfish are perhaps one of the most well-known and classic aquarium fish in the world. They are affordable both to initially purchase and to care for and are widely available in pet stores everywhere. However, most people don’t like to keep only goldfish in their aquarium and many are tempted by the idea of pairing them with snails. This is a viable option but you must be mindful of choosing the right snail species since some may become prey for a hungry goldfish. In the main, choosing larger species that are able to defend themselves is the best option. Things like the nerite snail and the mystery snail work particularly well.
