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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 336
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 336 |
I have a 2 acre pond that is infested with spiral shell snails. They are about 1-1/12 inches in length and I would guess there is at least one per square foot of visible bottom. 3 years ago I stocked 1000 RES to help control them and this year I see a lot of dead snails around the shoreline and many that float up and get hung up around the grate covering the overflow.
I have not caught or seen a RES( shellcrackers) since they were stocked and I wonder why there are so many dead snails? Is it normal to have this kind snail density and mortality? Do the snails eat the FA or have any other beneficial value? Kind of perplexed here.
Thanks.
Montani semper liberi Mountaineers are always free
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,154 Likes: 493 |
Snails normally eat algae attached to underwater surfaces. Snails do not live forever. They have live spans like any other animal and it is normal to see empty shells one they have lived long enough in a pond that they start dying of old age. .
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 336
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 336 |
Thanks Bill. I always assume something is wrong and get nervous. So I guess having lots of snails is beneficial in a pond that has FA?
Montani semper liberi Mountaineers are always free
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,799 Likes: 69
Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,799 Likes: 69 |
Mark
I'll bet your RES are doing well with your snail population, even though it's a pretty liberal stocking rate. Remember that RES are different than BG and they tend to feed downward - more benthic - thus the terminal mouth. A 1/32 oz jighead tipped with a paddletail plastic, Gulp, or a nub of crawler fished on or near the bottom will help you target their zones better. They should either be spawning or just finishing I'm guessing for your latitude - sight fishing them on the beds is pretty reliable and they'll aggressively protect their zone.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
My First
by H20fwler - 05/06/24 04:29 AM
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