CalmedByFish Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 I know the fastest way to kill a snail is to crush it, but I need to dispose of gravel that's full of snails. I won't be able to get all of them out. So how do I cause their death to be quick and painless before I trash the gravel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingFishKeeper Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 (edited) Hi, I've heard of an alum dip for plants to deal with snails, although I'm not sure how the snails would feel during it? (I haven't tried it, although I've heard from Irene at Girl Talks Fish that it works for snails without a trapdoor, however those with one seem to just close it, and they manage to survive so it would probably depend on the species of snail.) Edited June 12, 2021 by FlyingFishKeeper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 9:48 AM, FlyingFishKeeper said: it would probably depend on the species of snail Malaysian trumpet, ramshorn, bladder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMYVET Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 How much gravel are we talking....how about boiling water...would kill them instantly. Just wondering why you are disposing of the gravel with the snails? Maybe you could do an outdoor pond with the gravel and have snails and some guppy grass floating....small fountain and it would look great all of less than 50 bucks. Just a thought. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingFishKeeper Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 (edited) The MTS/malaysian trumpet snails would probably just seal their trapdoors and make it through the treatment. I like @ARMYVET's idea of boiling. Edited June 12, 2021 by FlyingFishKeeper Saw other information that changed my views 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 @CalmedByFish is the problem that the gravel is infested by snails you don't want, or is the problem that you don't like the gravel any more and you can't be sure to find every snail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 @ARMYVET and @Brandy, I'm moving cross-country, and won't be using the gravel at the new place. (I did ask the fish groups in the area - but that's not going well, so I need to find a way to trash it.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun.singh1991 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Get two Assassin Snails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 10:28 AM, Sun.singh1991 said: Get two Assassin Snails. No time since I'm moving soon, and taking down the tank today and tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun.singh1991 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 10:30 AM, CalmedByFish said: No time since I'm moving soon, and taking down the tank today and tomorrow. What I would do is dump the gravel in a pond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 10:31 AM, Sun.singh1991 said: What I would do is dump the gravel in a pond. There's not a pond at this house. @ARMYVET The amount of gravel is 4'x1' and 2" deep. Am I right in thinking that would take hours to finish? Everyone, what about a bleach solution? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMYVET Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 I would think if the water is boiling heavily they would be killed instantly ....you would have to do it in batches depending on the pot size. SO yes a couple of hours...I know you are pressed for time. Bleach would kill of pretty much everything if its strong enough of a solution and allowed to soak overnight....You would be starting with a completely sanitized tank in the new place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 10:40 AM, ARMYVET said: I would think if the water is boiling heavily they would be killed instantly ....you would have to do it in batches depending on the pot size. SO yes a couple of hours...I know you are pressed for time. Bleach would kill of pretty much everything if its strong enough of a solution and allowed to soak overnight....You would be starting with a completely sanitized tank in the new place. Boiling is currently sounding like my least-bad option. 😞 If bleach would require much time, then that means they suffer for hours, but I guess that's better than suffering for days or weeks in the trash. (The tank the gravel is in will actually be given away - hopefully tomorrow. The replacement tank will have bacteria and microfauna that I'll be diligently keeping in a couple of small, easily-moved containers. So that particular issue won't be too bad.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Well, boiling would do it. It would be near instant. An outdoor pond is a very bad idea as the snails are not native and dependent on weather could become invasive. Scattering it in a driveway would likely work and get picked over by birds... Know anyone with chickens? If the gravel is a Crayola color that might not be attractive outdoors... Bleach will likely kill most, but mts are tough. Heat is your best bet. Oven? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun.singh1991 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 10:48 AM, Brandy said: Well, boiling would do it. It would be near instant. An outdoor pond is a very bad idea as the snails are not native and dependent on weather could become invasive. Scattering it in a driveway would likely work and get picked over by birds... Know anyone with chickens? If the gravel is a Crayola color that might not be attractive outdoors... Bleach will likely kill most, but mts are tough. Heat is your best bet. Oven? I don’t think they would be invasive because snails are a natural food source for fish and birds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMYVET Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Any way to have the person who is taking the tank ...take the substrate and rehome the snails? They will need substrate for it after all. Just trying to find a way of not killing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 10:48 AM, Brandy said: Scattering it in a driveway would likely work and get picked over by birds... Know anyone with chickens? If the gravel is a Crayola color that might not be attractive outdoors... Bleach will likely kill most, but mts are tough. Heat is your best bet. Oven? I'm urban, so there aren't any gravely areas, nor chickens - and it's Crayola-colored anyway. I wondered about the oven. I'm concerned that if the gravel absorbed water, I could get exploding rocks. Any insight on that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 (edited) On 6/12/2021 at 10:57 AM, ARMYVET said: Any way to have the person who is taking the tank ...take the substrate and rehome the snails? They will need substrate for it after all. Just trying to find a way of not killing them. I offered, but he didn't answer yet, and I've got to get the tank emptied today. Until he actually picks up the tank tomorrow, I can set the gravel aside in water, but that's my time limit. 😞 I've gotta get the WHOLE house ready to sell and move. Edit: He texted right after I posted this. Can't take the gravel. Gotta find a way to kill the snails. Edited June 12, 2021 by CalmedByFish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMYVET Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 I would put the gravel in a bucket with the tank water and wait for him to get the tank and offer him the substrate....I would almost guarantee he would take it. I know I would because of the expense of substrate even if I didn't want the snails it would be my problem to deal with and you in the clear conscious wise. I am happy to see you are truly worried about their wellbeing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 11:16 AM, ARMYVET said: I would put the gravel in a bucket with the tank water and wait for him to get the tank and offer him the substrate.... I am happy to see you are truly worried about their wellbeing! He actually just replied. Doesn't want the gravel. (I'm very grateful I can give my tank to a good person though.) So I guess that brings me back to boiling, bleach, or the oven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Ok. Here's what I would do. I would put the drained gravel in a foil pan in a cold oven. Cover with foil. Then I would set the temp at 350 degrees. At the end of the preheat cycle I would shut it off and leave the door closed. Let it cool. Repeat in batches if necessary. The snails will die in under 10 min, and any rocks that pop should be fairly contained, and you have enough to do. This is a bit easier. Could be a little smelly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 The only reason I say foil pan is that I wouldn't want color from the rocks to ruin anything, but if you wanted you could just line a pan or use an old one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 @BrandyThat helps. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 The only caveat is that if the rocks are really deep it might take a little more time to heat thru. Multiple shallow pans area better than one massive one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 8:56 AM, Sun.singh1991 said: I don’t think they would be invasive because snails are a natural food source for fish and birds. Just a few examples. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.solitudelakemanagement.com/blog/invasive-species-highlight-apple-snails/&ved=2ahUKEwjn8rHyyZLxAhUH054KHTz4DIAQFjAAegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw261oBrl77qbZcTt1-mCEWe https://www.lakegeorgeassociation.org/educate/science/lake-george-invasive-species/chinese-mystery-snail/ https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.fws.gov/columbiariver/ANS/factsheets/mudsnail.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwikoIWsypLxAhXSqp4KHQj4BYUQFjAAegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw0wARZGnnPXE3bVQQkaEbhy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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