Originally posted by Bruce Condello:
Attention Pondmeisters!...
I would appreciate any input I can get. 
What do snails eat?
What type of water chemistry do snails like?
Can redears grow huge on just snails?
Has any pondmeister seen a really big redear that was caught from a small body of water?
Without an avian vector like Kingfishers, will snails still contribute to parasitic infections of fish?
Who's a good person to contact that might deliver (ship) me one to two thousand 1-inch redears next May or June?
Thanks in advance!!!!
By the way, my redears love the nightcrawlers that I've acquired. I just can't afford this strategy forever.Bruce,
Here is what I know, which is not much:
Snails eat algae, aquatic plants, bacteria, bottom detrius, etc. I have also seen them feeding on dead fish carcasses. Bill Cody should be able to back this up or correct me.
Not sure about water chemistry but I would assume they need calcium in the water to build their shells so it would seem hard water is a plus.
I would assume redears can grow huge on snails as it is a main part of their diet. I'm sure you know they have crusher teeth at the back of their buccal cavity to crush shells.
See this site for info on the relationship of the new world record redear and snails:
http://realindy.com/recordfish.htm I have mounted a 2 lb. redear/redear hybrid from a private pond recently.
I would not think if an avian vector was started that the cycle could complete itself, but I could be wrong. Since I have prevented Great Blue Herons from wading into my pond with stakes and 8o lb. braided line I have seen a marked reduction in grubs in my fish. In fact I haven't seen any lately at all. Once my water cleared up the massive amounts of snails seeme to disappear also. I believe that is due to the bluegills and perch finding them more easily but that is a hunch.
As far as getting redears I would see if you can find a hauler to deliever you some feed trained redear from Ridgeview Fin Farm in Ridgeville corners Ohio. Bill Cody and I think he is training them in an RAS and may also be doing this with black crappies.
You're welcome to use my hauling tank if you have a good size pickup to pull the trailer as long as you can get it back to me. Furthermore you are welcome to stay at my house which is not far from the Ridgeview Fin Farm. We can trade stories on attempting to grow large fish.
