native predatory snails?

Hi everybody, my first post here. I've been lurking for a while now and thought I'd see if anybody else knew of any predatory freshwater native snails. Specifically, those that eat other snails? A couple of my planted tanks are completely covered in snails and not only could they provide a service but I think it would be very interesting to watch.

I've collected two local types of snails from the Kentucky River that are very interesting, one is large with a 2+ inch shell that is very thick, they are pretty interesting to watch and seem to do a good job at eating algae. They operate much like trumpet snails, burrowing through the substrate. I'm aware that snails can be vectors of fish parasites and I am keeping these that I caught in fishless tubs outside until fall. Hopefully there will be a second generation (less parasites) that I can add to my tanks. I had the scientific name pretty well nailed down and the piece of paper I wrote it down on has gone somewhere. Anybody else keep collected snails? Thanks for your time. Ted

I seem to have lost the limpets in my tanks after 2 years.

I also have a planorbidae snail that only gets 1/4 inch diameter and 1/16 inch thick. Been around for 4 years. Came from a creek by my house - Detroit Michigan. These snails have very hard shells. Mystery snails and pond snails will glide right over the planorbidae without bothering them. I have heard most snails will eat any other tiny snail they can. These planorbidae snails don't clog my siphon hoses like the Seminole Rams-horn snails; it only took 3 months of vigilance to wipe out rams-horns from bare bottomed tanks.

I'm not aware of any predatory native snails; however, most crayfish will happily feed on snails.

I'm not aware of any predatory native snails; however, most crayfish will happily feed on snails.

As will pumpkinseeds and bullheads. Just tossed some val covered in snails into my tank with those two species about 15 mins ago, and looks like all the snails are gone. I was hoping they'd get rid of the algae -- these fish are in a tank that's a bit too small while I'm re-working their primary 75g tank. -Jase

Edited by jase, 13 May 2008 - 11:01 AM.

As will pumpkinseeds and bullheads. Just tossed some val covered in snails into my tank with those two species about 15 mins ago, and looks like all the snails are gone. I was hoping they'd get rid of the algae -- these fish are in a tank that's a bit too small while I'm re-working their primary 75g tank. -Jase

I had no snalils in my 40 breeder with bluespoted sunfish and johnny darters. All my other tanks had.....healthy populations to say the least.

I've collected two local types of snails from the Kentucky River that are very interesting, one is large with a 2+ inch shell that is very thick, they are pretty interesting to watch and seem to do a good job at eating algae.

I had similarly large snails collected from the Connecticut river in New Hampshire a few years back. They seemed to thrive in extremely shallow, silt & clay-covered bottoms with lots of algae growth. They didn't do much at all for scraping algae off of glass -- their mouthparts seemed not to be up to the task when I watched through the glass. You could see the radula going, but not doing anything. As you suggested, they seemed to want to burrow slightly in a soft substrate. Anyone know what these things are? They approached the size of ping-pong balls, and were absolutely everywhere. I really wondered at the time how they'd be for eating if collected from a cleaner river...

I received some of these snails from nonamesleft and I was able to identify the cone shaped snails as a type of pleuroceridae. The second type I have not been able to get a solid id yet, but Im thinking its a viviparus of some type.

I received some pleurocerid snails from a nativefishcollector who runs crayfishop.com Anyway, they were incredibly cool little buggers but soon died out on me.

They could be native viviparids. Or perhaps the exotic Chinese mystery snail.

Darters regard snails as a delicacy, they're experts at yanking them out of their shell.

I have snails in the creek on my farm, but only in extremely shallow water where darters can't get to. Toss in a few rainbows, your snail problem will disappear, leaving you only with an empty shell problem.