What is a good snail for algae?

[Luinhir]

I'd like to get some snails for my bettas tanks and I need one that will do good with algae and clean everything. I've read though that snails in warmer water don't live nearly as long. Is that true, because if so then I don't think I can do that, I'd feel bad. Plus I wouldn't want it to be uncomfortable. If you can suggest a snail for me and have any other information about that snail it would be great too. Thank you.

[MokeyBird]

Large ramshorms do a fairly decent job for algae.. Mine prefer to clean the ornaments than the glass though, and they do a bang up job! We have them in with the goldfish though, not the bettas, and they are about the size of a half dollar. The bigger the better on those guys. Or you could opt with a bunch of little ones, but I have heard that they are prolific breeders, so you don't want to be overrun.

Trumpet snails are REALLY cool, but they also breed at a high rate. I never had a problem with algae in the tank I had those in, if I remember right, so I am not sure about thier affectiveness on existing algae.

I don't really have a problem in my betta tanks with algae, but I have mystery snails in with all of them. They do really well together.

You could also look into some true algae eating shrimp(ghosts are not). Just make sure you have decent hidey holes for them especially to start out with. My males tore a few apart once when I didn't have adequate hiding spots for them.

Also, I would look into some live plants. I have heard that some types discourage the growth of algae. I have Java Moss in with all my bettas and it looks great, is inexpensive, the bettas love it, and it is beneficial.

If you look in the other post "Can a snail go with a betta?" I think it was, you can see pictures of my Rams and Mysteries, or I can post them if you want.

*runs off to look for better info for you*

[Luinhir]

Thank you. When it's night and my room is dark, a few of my bettas hang out at the bottom of the tank. Will they crawl on my fish and eat them. I think this might be a stupid question, but I'd like to be 100% sure.

[MokeyBird]

Haha, I don't think that would happen. At least none of my fish have turned up missing. I think the second one touched them they would swim away. "What the-!"

Part of the reason I like the java moss is that a few of my bettas use them as mattresses. They do thier sleeping there.

Algae Eating Olive nerite Snails (0.79 each, minimum 12)

http://www.azgardens.com/snails.php
-Probably One of the Best Algae Eating Snails you will ever Own!

-THEY WILL NOT REPRODUCE IN FRESHWATER!

-THEY WILL NOT EAT YOUR PLANTS

These little fellas are actually about the size of a dime or a marble, and have neat little barnacles growing on the shells. Probably about the best algae eating snail for aquariums in the world, as they DO NOT reproduce in freshwater, but only in brackish or saltwater. YES, we have them here at the nursery in our FRESHWATER pools so you need not worry about any acclimation process unless you want them BACK in Saltwater. They may lay "pretzel- salt-looking" eggs, but they won't hatch unless the eggs are laid in, at least, brackish water. Great for keeping GLASS, & PLANT LEAVES clean! NO, They won't eat your plants either. What else could you want in a snail?

STOCK about 1 per gallon or more. Not easy to breed, as they are actually a brackish water snail (brackish water is where they are prolific). Excellent algae eating snail for freshwater aquariums. Will NOT harm plant life.
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^^Those guys also have large rams for a good price.

Apple/Mystery Snail Care info
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile92.html
http://www.applesnail.net/content/care.php

[khines5330]

How large is your tank? I have a larger tank with Bettas in it and a Pleco for algea control. The pleco and the Bettas get along without issue.