Advise about number of Ramshorn snails, please.

[Shell1]

I had to learn how to use my camera all over again! I hope I did it correctly.

[JohanJ]

Looks like a mosquito larvae

[Shell1]

Thanks so much. There's not much I can do about them----what eats them?

[JohanJ]

Prettymuch everything eats them. Frogs, newts, small fish, large fish, other larvae, water beetles. They're basically the McDonalds of the pond world.

[Shell1]

Great! I've got most of those. Thanks for your help.

[N0z]

Johan couldnt of said it any better and its true they are like the mcdonalds of the water world cause EVERYTHING eats them lol

[ro284]

Hi Shell1. i also have lots of little 'Tadpole like things' but believe mine to be young Palmate newts. i also have the small worms in my pond which i enjoy, The reason being my pond is now a fully established wildlife pond (no fish) which i have been working towards for a long time, regards everybody, Ro

[Red Robin]

Is the Great Pond Snail Lymnaea stagnalis as predatory as the Ramshorns?



^ Mine have completely gobbled up the blanketweed since this pic was taken this April.

[T1M1X]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

Is the Great Pond Snail Lymnaea stagnalis as predatory as the Ramshorns?

Neither snails are "predatory". I've certainly never heard of native snails (ramshorn or otherwise) "catching" prey, and after several years with a pond containing many hundreds of them I have never witnessed them doing so. If I found one eating a tadpole, I'd be more inclined to believe that the tadpole was dying anyway and was simply being accidentally grazed upon. Ramshorns will graze on detritus such as dead fish, which is one reason they're such a good addition.
I have a pond approximately 9x6 feet with both Planorbis sp., and Lymnaea sp., and newts breed (very) happily every year. I really wouldn't worry. Even three annual waves of dragonfly larvae haven't been able to dent my newt population. Just give plenty of plant cover and it's unlikely that anything will be driven to extinction in all but smallest pond.

[LSS]

I would love some advice on this too. I have a small pond - less than a year old. I am impatient so got some tadpoles from another pond - they are safely housed in my study as I have at least 4 newts in my pond. I had bought and introduced 6 Ramshorns into my pond last autumn. But there is no sign of them now. I am not sure if they have laid eggs or if the newts got to them.

1. Do I wait to see what happens or get some more snails ? Would like the snails to keep the algae in control.
2. When do newts lay eggs?

PS I love this forum and happy to see so many people keen on helping wildlife