Snails in the aquarium
Gastropods useful as scavengers and algae eaters. Some species are introduced voluntarily, others arrive as stowaways on the plants.
Detailed explanation
Snails are among the most useful inhabitants of an aquarium. Most feed on algae, detritus, leftover food, and decaying organic matter. They are the silent cleaning crew that works 24 hours a day.
Neritinas are the most loved in freshwater aquariums. They eat green algae from glass and decorations without touching the plants. They do not reproduce in fresh water (the eggs need brackish water to develop) so the population remains under control.
Planorbarius (planorbis) often arrive as stowaways on plants. They reproduce quickly and in overfed aquariums they can become a plague. They are not harmful: their population explosion is a sign that there is too much food in the aquarium.
Melanoides (Malayan snails, MTS) live in the substrate and ventilate it with their burrowing. They are nocturnal and very useful for preventing anaerobic pockets in the sand. They also reproduce quickly if food is plentiful.
Clea helena (assassin snails) are the organic solution to snail infestations. They actively prey on other snails. They are small, beautiful (yellow and black with stripes) and reproduce slowly.
In marine aquariums, snails are equally important. Trochus and Astraea are the best algae eaters from glass. Nassarius burrow into the sand and emerge when they smell food, keeping the substrate clean. Cerithium scrape algae from rocks.
Turbo snails (Turbo fluctuosa) are huge and very voracious but tend to fall from glass and cannot right themselves. They must be checked periodically.
A well-balanced Clean Up Crew (CUC) of snails, hermit crabs and hermits is essential for reef maintenance.