Today we’re going to talk about snails, which are one of my most important tools for keeping a shrimp tank healthy. The first thing I want to say about snails is that 99.9% of them are great for our aquariums, and I really do mean that.
Snails will have a beneficial effect on maintaining biological balance in the aquarium. This is why I’m going to tell you why you should keep them in any shrimp tank. Unfortunately, a lot of people simply do not understand that. Even more, these little creatures are often considered as pests in the aquarium. This is wrong and I will explain to you why.
As both shrimp and snails are common tankmates, shrimp keepers often wonder – do shrimp eat snail poop? The short answer is yes shrimp eagerly consume snail waste as an additional food source. This seeming act of coprophagia is actually an important element of the symbiotic relationship between shrimp and snail populations in an aquarium.
In this article, we will explore why shrimp eat snail feces, the benefits for both species, potential risks, and how to maintain balance in a shared habitat.
Why Shrimp Eat Snail Poop
Shrimp are omnivorous scavengers by nature. In the wild, they forage for bits of debris, algae, biofilm, and decomposing plant and animal matter. This includes feasting on poop and other “yucky” remains
Snail poop or frass is not just waste – it contains a rich mix of infusoria, microorganisms, undigested nutrients, and bacteria that aid in digestion. For tiny shrimp, this equates to a nutrient-dense package of food.
Additionally, some types of snails produce infusoria as part of their digestive process. These microorganisms are a natural food that shrimp seek out. Over time in a shared habitat, shrimp develop a taste for snail feces as a regular part of their varied diet.
Benefits for Shrimp
Eating this natural waste product provides several key benefits for our shrimp:
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Added nutrition – Snail poop offers protein, fiber, minerals, and other nutrients shrimp need. This supplemental food source promotes better growth and health.
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Gut bacteria – The microorganisms in snail waste aid in digestion and provide probiotics. This allows shrimp to derive more nutrients from the food they eat.
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Foraging enrichment – Hunting for bits of snail poop gives shrimp exercise and mental stimulation. An active lifestyle lowers stress.
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Clean up – Removing piles of snail frass helps keep the tank environment clean and water parameters stable. Less build up equals healthier shrimp.
As shrimp owners, we can take advantage of their waste-eating tendencies to naturally clean our tanks. Offering snails as tankmates provides a self-sustaining food chain.
Benefits for Snails
This co-dependent relationship provides advantages for the snail population as well:
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Population control – Shrimp will eat excess snail eggs helping prevent overpopulation and crashes.
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Clean up – Shrimp consume snail waste preventing build up that could harm water quality.
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Food sharing – Uneaten shrimp pellets, wafers, and vegetation become food sources for snails.
By working together, shrimp and snails maintain a balanced ecosystem. This is an example of commensalism where both species derive benefits.
Potential Risks
While mutualistic in normal populations, there are a few risks to be aware of:
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Overpopulation – Too many snails leads to waste accumulation, algae overgrowth, and unstable parameters. Keep numbers in check.
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Competition – Excess snails may outcompete shrimp for shared food sources causing starvation.
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Toxins – High snail bio-load can cause ammonia spikes, low oxygen, and high nitrates. Test water frequently.
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Aggression – Very high densities may trigger territorial aggression between shrimp and snails.
The key is maintaining balance – not too few or too many snails for the shrimp population and tank size. Perform routine culling and egg removal to prevent crashes.
Tips for Success
Here are some best practices for keeping shrimp and snails thriving together:
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Start with 2-3 small snails per gallon of tank size. Slowly increase snail numbers over time.
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Mix in algae-eating varieties like nerites along with scavengers like ramshorns.
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Feed shrimp first, then offer snail-specific foods like algae wafers after a few hours.
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Remove excess snail eggs and cull overpopulation early. Shoot for under 1 snail per gallon when mature.
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Test ammonia, nitrites, nitrates weekly. Perform water changes at 20-30% when levels rise.
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Provide plenty of hiding spots, dense vegetation, and rocks for grazing and territory.
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Perform monthly soil vacuuming to remove debris, waste, and uneaten food.
The Verdict
While the idea of shrimp eating poop may seem strange, it is actually an integral part of the habitat. Shrimp and snails have an interconnected life cycle in aquariums when balance is maintained.
This commensalistic relationship allows both populations to thrive. The shrimp eat nutritious snail frass while keeping the tank clean. The snails help recycle waste while benefiting from shared resources.
Have you observed shrimp in your tank foraging for snail frass? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!
Snail’s Poop is Good for Shrimp
On top of being a good cleanup crew, snails also poop like all creatures. Did you know that shrimp poop has bacteria that is good for their digestive system? Shrimp eat anything that can be found. They will find that poop and get those good bacteria in their digestive tract. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
Infusoria Snails
Some snails can be valuable for your shrimp by produce infusoria which shrimp will eat happily.
Unfortunately, these are Apple snails and Colombian Ramshorn snails. These snails are voracious plant-eaters. They will demolish all plants in the aquarium in no time. As a result, their digested excrement will start feeding an infusoria culture.
Snails are the Best Cleanup Crew
I know you might have some concerns about them taking over your aquarium. In some cases they kind of do. When it happens you need to ask yourself a question. Why do you have so many snails? Why do they breed like crazy?.
The main reason is that there is enough food source in the aquarium for them to breed. Snails will eat any food that shrimp don’t finish, as well as what is called “decomposing organic matter.” Most people give the shrimp too much food. It is a fact. They will just drop it in without even noticing that there is some food still left. This is how overfeeding starts and usually it ends very badly.
With snails, you will reduce the chances of that happening. Because they are going to eat that leftover food. They are going to make sure that it is not just sitting there fouling the water. When the shrimp leave something behind, snails will pick it up. They are a really good cleanup crew.
Snails will eat things that are beginning to break down, like shrimp or fish waste, shrimp food, or plants that are slowly dying.
You can say that snails eat your healthy plants when you are new to the tank or the plants. This is a mistake in most cases! They will break down your plants that are dying or dead. It may seem healthy but it is not. Of course, if there is no food in your aquarium for a week or two, they will start to die of hunger. In this case, they may eat some plants while they are dying. In all other situations, you should not worry about your plants.
There are some types of snails that do eat healthy foods, like the Marisa cornuarietis (Large Colombian Ramshorn snail). You can my guide about this snail here. – Pomacea canaliculata (Apple snail).
Apple snails are one of the 100 worst invaders in the world and one of the 40 worst invaders in Europe. In some countries, it may be illegal to sell them.
Yes, these little guys will help you will algae problem. There are many snails that can do that but the most popular are: – Nerite Snails. (they have a huge variety of colors and patterns and an enormous appetite for algae). They can eat all types of algae found in a freshwater tank. (including such as Green Spot Algae and Green Beard Algae). – Ramshorn Snails. If there is enough algae for the Ramshorn, it will not touch your plants like most other snails that eat algae. – Malaysian Trumpet Snails. They can eat all types of algae, as well. Another benefit is that they are not interested in live plants.
Breeding Shrimp – Three (3) Reasons Snails are Essential
Do snails eat shrimp?
When the shrimp leave something behind, snails will pick it up. They are a really good cleanup crew. Snails will eat decaying matter so if you have shrimp or fish poops sitting there rotting or shrimp food rotting or a plant rotting, they will eat that.
Can one eat raw shrimps?
While raw shrimp or shrimp sashimi can be consumed safely, raw shrimp is considered a high-risk food because it can harbour harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and various Vibrio bacteria. Although some people consider the seafood used in ceviche raw, it is actually cooked by immersing it in an acid rather than using heat. The acid from the citrus can reduce harmful bacteria but it is not as effective as using heat. The safest approach would be to consume only cooked shrimp from a reliable source. The US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) advises that pregnant women, those with weakened immunity, older adults, and young children are at higher risk of foodborne illness and its consequences and should avoid all raw seafood.
Do shrimp eat poop?
With over 2,000+ species, I’ll cover the general idea of the topic. First of all, if you didn’t know- shrimps are scavengers. Whether they are in your tank or in the wild, they will spend the majority of their time eating anything that has fallen to the bottom. These shrimps will even try poop to see if it’s consumable.
Do shrimp kill snails?
As a result of the constant “picking and cleaning” the snail can die. As we can see the shrimp does not have any intention to kill the snail. If it happens it is just an unfortunate concatenation of circumstances. Today we will talk about one of my most essential tools at keeping a successful shrimp tank – snails.