Treating plants for snails?

[plecoman]

I've got a shipment of plants coming next week. The guy told me that he had trumpet snails in his tanks. He said that he would wash them good before shipping and recommended that I do the same when I receive them. My question is: What can I dip or soak these plants in that will kill any snail eggs before I put them in my tanks? Any info would help! I wondered about an aquarisol bath, but I don't know if that will damage the plants.

[angel]

I had seen Bunnie say peroxide once, I think.

[angel]

But then again maybe it was bleach. I found this in a google search:

You can try to kill any existing snail eggs by bleaching yr plants. One part of bleach to 19 parts of water. Soak for 5 mins. Won't kill yr plants but will stunt their growth a while. After that they should grow fine.

As for existing snails, best way is using yr hands to remove!

[vladsbtch]

I have a friend that sells plants and he puts then into a dip. I will find out what he uses.
Hopefully I will get you the answer in the next day.

[plecoman]

That would be great. I'd love to know what kind of dip they used. Thanks for all the info. I've found a lot on the net. One person says bleach will work and another says no. One person say potassium permanganate will work and another says no. It's the same with alum also. Who's right? I may just try them all.

[bunnie1978]

PP will kill your plants, immediately.
Two options for dipping before adding to tank, bleach (1 part bleach, 5-10 parts water) for up to 5 mintues depending on the plant. More delicate plants won't tolerate this at all, but things like java ferns and anubias take it without batting an eyelash. With anubias, use the stronger formula.
Peroxide can be used as well, but it requires prolonged exposure at high levels to kill the eggs. Peroxide can be used after putting the plants in, but not with catfish. That's how I killed all my bristlenose last month, or the month before. Overdosed with peroxide.
Bleach before adding to tank is best, imo.

[bunnie1978]

Oh, and then, after bleaching, rinse well, then leave in a water solution for 5-10 minutes or so that has about 5 times the normal amount of declorinator.

[plecoman]

Thanks for the info! And by the way, they are anubias and java fern. Sounds like a good bleach dip then! I found some mother plants from a guy in New York and he's shipping them out in the morning. I can't wait to get them.

[vladsbtch]

Here is ken's answer for getting rid of snails.
potassium Permanganate GREAT STUFF
kinda purple.. I believe it is one fl oz per gallon of water
dip the plants hold for 20 seconds remove and rinse lightly
or place directly in tank as long as the PP ( lol I love
calling it that) solution does not lay on the plants longer than
about 2 minutes at that concentration.. it will kill snails,
snail eggs, hydra ,leeches. damn near anything that is an
invertebrate.
Hope this helps.
I see there are others who say this will kill plants. But Ken and a few others who I have gotten to know over the years, sell plants through aquabid and ebay use it to rid plants of snails before they ship them. I questioned more than one person about the use of potassium permanganate. I trust these people because some of them have been selling plants for 15 yrs. And the plants that I get from them are healthy and I haven't had a snail from their shipments yet.

[plecoman]

That's some good information! Thanks