snail/pond question

[bigwig]

We now have 3 terrace style ponds set up in our garden and the one that has been established the longest has 4 adult snails and several baby snails. To put it bluntly the adults are shagging like mad - I've caught them at it several times I don't mind a few extras babies popping up, but don't want to get to a situation where we are overrun with them. Whenever I find eggs I take them out, but they don't always lay the eggs on the surface plants apparently, so without taking the pond apart on a daily basis I may not find all the eggs. The pond is quite small and has a lot of plants in, which have taken up a lot of the available space and I am worried that this pond may not be suitable to add a couple of fish too. Have been told that fish will eat the eggs and help to control the snails a bit. I have also discovered 2 tiny ramshorn snails in there today Our snails are the greater pond variety, so I can only assume these ramshorns came in with some oxygentators I bought recently.

We wanted to keep this pond as the snails pond and the other 2 ponds will be another wildlife pond and a fish pond respectively. Is there anything I can do to curb the snails a little ? I don't want to just take them out and throw them away - seems a bit heartless to do that. Hopefully some fish in the 2nd pond will help, but just wondering if there is anything we can do about the other ponds as they will not have fish in. If I do nothing at all will nature take care of it and develop its own balance ?

[RobSutton]

Years ago I did some work on colonisation by animals of new ponds and some of these had an initial explosion in snail numbers. After a while though their numbers stabilised as more and more other animals colonised and the food webs became more complex. Perhaps you should just let them find their own balance?

[Kayleigh]

I have never controlled the snails as I wish they would eat some of the plants..But their numbers never seem to get too high.maybe something is eating them in my pond.

[bigwig]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

Years ago I did some work on colonisation by animals of new ponds and some of these had an initial explosion in snail numbers. After a while though their numbers stabilised as more and more other animals colonised and the food webs became more complex. Perhaps you should just let them find their own balance?

My adult snails have almost doubled in size since we got them about 5-6 weeks ago The babies are still very small. I see the adults around the sides or at the surface amongst the plants quite a lot. The eggs I have found have been on the underside of the floating plants, but I have been told that they also lay eggs deeper down in the pond, so I wouldn't see those. The Ramshorn babies ( of which I have 2, so far ) are also very tiny. I am hoping that everything will eventually find its own balance, but am just worried that as the pond is so small that the snails will run out of space before that happens.

I bought a Swan Mussell yesterday ( upon advice from our local aquatic centre ). been told that they are natural filter feeders - but, do they eat snail eggs ? Also, I put the Mussell into the pond and half hour later it had vanished into a dark corner somewhere and I haven't seen it since I lifted the floating plants, but it must be well camoflaged as I cannot see it amongst the pebbles and gravel. Do they normally hide away in crevices, etc ? If I cannot see it how do I know its ok and feeding ? I don't want to start disturbing the pond too much.

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I have never controlled the snails as I wish they would eat some of the plants..But their numbers never seem to get too high.maybe something is eating them in my pond.

I see mine munching on plant stuff all the time and also feeding off the algae on the pond side. I've also seen them floating upside down at the surface - no idea what thats all about ?

[Gill Catton]

As other have suggested, the snails will find their own balance you don't need to worry. Oh and no the swan mussle won't eat snail eggs they are indeed filter feeders so eat tiny things floating in the water.

The mussles generally bury themselves in the silty bottom of canals and rivers so it is probably trying to do the same in your pond. It will then be hard to spot I suppose.

[djackso]

If they don't reach their own balance, or you feel you need to remove a few, a couple of floating lettuce leaves will attract them - then you can collect them and dispose of them.

[bigwig]

Originally Posted by djackso

If they don't reach their own balance, or you feel you need to remove a few, a couple of floating lettuce leaves will attract them - then you can collect them and dispose of them.

I don't want to ' dispose ' of them . We have 2 other ponds, so I can put some into these ponds as well. I quite like the snails they are entertaining to watch as they are very graceful in the water. Hopefully, I am worrying unneccessarily and everything will sort itself out.

[m1.carson]

Hi,

I don't think you'll need to move any of the snails if the ponds are connected they'll move themselves.

As for crawling upside down under the surface they're either feeding on very small stuff, or just on the way to another feeding spot, try putting some fish flakes in, you'll be amazed at the racing snails you've got.

Max.

[djackso]

Originally Posted by bigwig

I don't want to ' dispose ' of them . We have 2 other ponds, so I can put some into these ponds as well. I quite like the snails they are entertaining to watch as they are very graceful in the water. Hopefully, I am worrying unneccessarily and everything will sort itself out.

Oooops - sorry Didn't mean to sound callous. I meant give them away to a friend or relative who will look after them extremely well

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by djackso

Oooops - sorry Didn't mean to sound callous. I meant give them away to a friend or relative who will look after them extremely well

Or you could squish them for the tadpoles, they love them..