Could water snails ruin our ecosystem?

Question

Are the any known environmental issues connected with releasing pet water snails from an indoor aquarium into the wild in Britain. I hope not because one of our nieghbours wants to do this.

Answer 1

There's easier ways of killing them, they can't survive the British climate.

At least you've had the sense to ask. Things like American Crayfish, turtles and catfish have been released over the years and caused problems, but water snails are just a source of food to the local wildlife. You know from the amount of years people have kept snails in aquariums some fool has already made the mistake and nothing bad has happened.

Answer 2

African water snails carry Bilharzia a very nasty disease so.... eww.

Answer 3

As far as i'm aware they shouldnt be released into the wild. They can serve as vectors for foreign disease organisms and contaminate native fish populations.

Plus the chances of them surviving anyway is minimal.

So for the snails sake and the wildlifes sake i would have to say it is the wrong thing to do.

Hope this helps :) x

Answer 4

It is illegal to release any animal,crustacean, reptile that is not native to the UK in to the UK. ie British wild life.

We have beautiful lake near me where some idiot released two terrapins. They now have eaten their way through most of the duckings (last years) and bitten they legs off the adult ducks!

Answer 5

No.