Snails

[Busy B]

For the lilies that I have holding in the greenhouse I see there's a multidude of snails...must of came in on some plants I bought. Do the koi eat them? Or is it safest to disenfect the plants before I put them in the pond? I've heard of snails overpowering a filter/pump...do they?

[Wayne S.]

Some people have reported snails clogging pump and filters but I have not seen it around here. I've a few snails in my water-garden but they are not expanding very much. I don't have any in my koi pond. Not sure, but I think the difference is due to plants/design. I've read a lot of articles on snails and have not seen anything about koi or goldfish eating them but would expect very young snails would be in danger as fish forge around the pond bottom.

Turtles and raccoons are attracted to ponds with snails.

You can use potassium permanganate to disinfect plants before adding to a pond. Using up to around 20ppm will kill anything on the plant without hurting the plant.

Wayne S.

[Busy B]

No stray turtles or raccoons...pretty lucky huh? :lol:

Thanks Wayne..If I don't have PP what about a mild solution of bleach?

[Jackie Ramo]

A 10% bleach solution will kill most everything except live snails but those can be picked off. Actually may even kill them if they are in it long enough. Bleach is easier and less dangerous than PP.

[marla]

having not heard to disinfect plants prior to placing in the pond, last year some of the lillies I put in the plant pockets with dirt had itty bitty snails. Soon they were all over. Picked off tons when I'd de-algae the pond. Now that I know and I rinse the plants of dirt first shouldn't be a problem I hope.

[Jackie Ramo]

My fish eat the snails once they become large enough. So they have never been a problem in my pond. I have read about others who didn't have such good luck.

[BonnieIN]

I have more of a problem with them in the filtration areas. :-x

Yes I also disinfect new plants with a bleach solution before adding to the pond. Don't want any nasties. Have enough problems without adding to it..

[Busy B]

So it's best to make sure I get rid of as many as I can...seems the numbers of them have increased alot as the warmer temps have happened.