Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I keep hereing about people keeping snails in with their turtles...is this a good idea....and do they climb out of the water because i have an open top aquarium would they escape?

Most aquatic snails breathe with gills and won't leave the water. I think a turtle might eat a snail but otherwise they're pretty harmless and they eat algae too.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

Well I have 11 snails in my 100 gallon tank with my RES and right now uses them for footholds and headrests. But from what I understand he will eat when he gets older and figures out the trapdoor. If you get Colbumiam Ramshorn they lay eggs in the water but do come to the surface to breathe at times. If water is lacking enough oxygen they will stay there. The "mystery" snails they sell at store lay eggs above the water. I am not sure if they would try to lay them in the water. But mysteries have been knew to climb out of tanks. But they can live for weeks out of water due to lungs. I like to watch the snails move along the bottom and sides. They really aren't that great of algea control. I put Romaine lettcue in the from to eat. I have had to scrub the side to get algea off. I hope this helps. Take care. Shannon

I had about 100 small snails at one point cause they breed like crazy, but I added them to my turtle tank and were all gone within a week my turts love them also I have never seen them come out of the water