About Robyn Rhudy Expertise I can answer questions regarding goldfish, koi, orfe, minnows, frogs, toads, salamanders, turtles, aquatic insects, snails, shrimp, other aquatic animals, algae, aquatic plants, winterizing, pond maintenance, pond setup, pond problems, and more. I am not as good on the actual construction of ponds and with pond equipment such as pumps and filters but know the basics.
Experience I have eight ponds and four aquariums. My largest 1800 gallon pond was built in 1997. Since then, I set up a web site on my animals, fish, and ponds. My pond web site (fishpondinfo.com) is huge, award-winning, and has spawned a free pond e-newsletter and a book on ponds. I am well known and respected in the on-line pond community.
Organizations Mid-Atlantic Koi Club
Publications I am quoted in an article in Aquarium Fish (May 2003). I published my own book on ponds in 2001. I wrote an article for the Jan/Feb 2004 issue of Organic Gardening on tub ponds.
Education/Credentials Masters degree in analytical chemistry; many people consider me a pond expert
Question Tiny snails ate all my water lilies last year. We tried to treat them and almost killed all our fish. Is there something that will kill the snails and not fish? We are over loaded again with these pest. Thanks for any suggestions.
Answer Well, as you found out, chemicals used to kill snails also kill other animals. They usually use copper which is toxic to snails, algae, some plants, delicate fish, and basically all the invertebrates and even bacteria in the pond (not good for the nitrogen cycle!). There are two basic options. The first is manual removal. In a large pond, this is basically impossible unless you have countless hours to pick off snails and wipe off their eggs. The other option is to introduce predators. Some fish like orfe and even goldfish will eat snails. Most of the good snail-eating animals are tropical and won't work in a pond. Raccoons love snails but I doubt you want them in messing with your pond like mine do! Another option is to add more plants to the pond. You can put in more plants snails prefer to eat like submerged plants (anacharis and horwort come to mind). The fish will also eat those. Some years, snails dessimate my waterlilies too but other years they don't. I just let nature hammer it out.
