Betta fish is not only known for its beautiful vibrant-colored fins but also its aggressive and territorial nature. Keeping another fish with a betta fish can be a challenging task due to the betta fish’s lousy temperament. A snail is a good tank mate for a betta fish but do betta fish eat snails?
To answer the question, do betta fish eat snails? The simple answer is yes. Your snail may get eaten by a betta fish. However, this depends on various factors, including the size of the snail, the temperament of your betta fish, and the betta fish’s diet. But you need not worry. There are some ways in which you can prevent this from happening.
Do Betta Fish Eat Snails? Types of Snails
If you are thinking of adding a snail to your betta tank, then you are in luck as there are a wide variety of snails to choose from, each having outstanding features. However, you must keep in mind that you should choose the right type of snail to keep with your betta fish.
Here are some of the most compatible types of snails that may be kept with a betta fish.
Ramshorn Snails
Ramshorn snails are one of the best snails that can be kept in your tank with a betta fish as it requires almost the same tank conditions as that of a betta fish. For instance, a Ramshorn snail requires a water temperature between 70 and 78 degrees F, while a betta fish requires a water temperature between 76 and 83 degrees F.
While on the topic of ‘do betta fish eat ramshorn snails?’, a Ramshorn snail can grow up to 1.5 inches in length. Thus, it may be pretty tricky for your betta fish to swallow the snail, although the betta fish may try to attack the snail.
They are also excellent algae eaters. Thus, you can rest assured that your tank will be algae-free once you have added ramshorn snails to your betta tank. The only problem you may face while keeping a ramshorn snail is that they reproduce quickly.
Nerite Snails
Nerite snails are another excellent option for a tank mate for your betta fish. They not only require similar water conditions as that of the betta fish, but they also come in a variety of different colors and designs that look great in a tank.
Nerite snails can grow up to 0.5 inches in length, which is relatively small. So answering the question, do betta fish eat snails? There is a possibility that your betta fish may try to eat the nerites. It would be best if you did not worry as long as you feed your betta fish properly.
Additionally, nerite snails require a water temperature between 72 and 78 degrees F that is almost as same as the betta fish (between 76 and 82 degrees F). Nerite snails also require a pH of 7.5, whereas the betta fish requires a pH ranging between 6 and 8. Therefore, water conditions are also too alike.
Assassin Snails
Assassin snails, as the name suggests, eat other snails. Thus, it will be a great addition to your betta tank if there are other snails present, as the assassin snails can control the reproduction rate of snails in the tank. Assassin snails are by far the most suitable choice for a betta fish tank mate.
Assassin snails require a water temperature between 75 and 80 degrees F and a water pH level between 7 and 8. On the other hand, a betta fish requires a water pH level of approximately seven and a water temperature between 76 and 82 degrees F. Thus, there is sufficient overlap between the two conditions.
To answer the question, do betta fish eat snails? Assassin snails can grow up to 3 inches in length. Thus, it is next to impossible for a betta fish to swallow an assassin snail. However, the betta fish may attack your snail if it is too aggressive.
Turret Snails
Another great addition can be that of a turret snail or, as they are called, the Malaysian Trumpet Snails. You can add a turret snail with your betta fish in the tank if you are a beginner, as they require low maintenance.
Turret snails require a water temperature of 70 to 78 degrees F and pH between 7 and 7.5. It is evident that these conditions are pretty similar to that of the betta fish, that is, water temperature between 76 and 82 degrees and pH of 7).
Malaysian Trumpet Snails can also grow up to 4-5 inches in length. Thus, it will be pretty tricky for your betta fish to eat a turret snail. They are also great algae eaters. The only issue is that they tend to reproduce quite swiftly under the right conditions.
Do Betta Fish Eat Snails – How To Prevent It?
If you are both a snail and a betta fish fanatic, you might consider putting them together in one tank. The only problem with this proposition is that the betta fish can attack and even eat your snails.
You may think that if you add a snail in the tank with your betta fish, it will end in the death of your snail. However, this depends on various factors like snail size, betta fish’s temperament, and your betta’s diet. There are some things that you can do to prevent this from happening.
Get A Large Snail
The first thing you can do is choose a snail larger than 2-2.5 inches. A betta fish can eat anything which is the size of its eyeball. Keeping an enormous snail will prevent this from happening as it will prove difficult for your betta fish to swallow your snail completely.
Feed Your Betta Fish Properly
You should also make sure that you feed your betta fish properly. This will ensure that your betta fish does not look at your snails as a source of food due to hunger. Thus, feeding the betta fish an appropriate diet like betta flakes, betta pellets, bloodworms, and daphnia can prevent this.
Add Your Snails First
The purpose behind putting the snails before the betta fish is to reduce the chances of aggression by the betta fish towards the snails. Betta fish are pretty territorial, and they will occupy the whole tank if added first. Thus, it is advised to add the snails first to give them some tank space and then the betta fish.
FAQs on Do Betta Fish Eat Snails?
Do snails clean betta tanks?
This depends on what, according to you, is a clean tank. Snails can clear out all the algae from your tank and make it look neat. But snails also excrete a considerable amount of waste.
Do you need to feed a snail in a betta tank?
Feeding your snail will be the least of your worries when feeding is concerned. Betta fish are great algae eaters, and they can also eat your betta fish’s leftovers. You may feed your snail’s algae wafers from time to time.
How many snails can you keep with a betta fish?
On average, you can have 5 to 10 snails in a 5 gallons tank with your betta fish. However, you need to take into consideration that the snails will start reproducing rapidly. Thus, a larger tank is recommended.
Do betta fish eat snail eggs?
YES. Betta fish can eat your snail’s eggs if it can fit into the betta’s mouth. However, some eggs are pretty challenging for the betta fish to eat.
Can betta fish eat snail shells?
Betta fish may try to eat your snail’s shell. It is next to impossible for a betta fish to eat a snail’s shell.
Final Thoughts
So to answer the question, do betta fish eat snails? The answer is yes. Your betta fish may eat your snail. But this happens only if your snail is too tiny, your betta is too aggressive, or your betta fish is not getting enough food.
