Where can I buy a small cleaner snail?

Where can I buy a small cleaner snail for my newt's 10 gallon tank, and what cleaner snails can live safely with newts? I've looked at my local pet store, but they didn't have any.|||Snails are excellent aquatic pets. The only thing is to realize that they aren't just janitors; you'll have to offer them their own diet to keep them healthy.





There are all sorts of snails but you also have to consider where you live. Many people refer to Pomacea Canaliculata snails as "apple snails". "Apple" snails is just a general term that covers a wide range of snails. These are the type that get to be the size of a small apple or a baseball. They will eat any live plant material, though. These snails are illegal to transport across state lines and in some states in the US, are illegal to own.





Pomacea brigs. snails are commonly tagged "mystery" snails, which is also a very broad term. These are plant safe and get to be the size of about a walnut. They are not illegal to transport, etc. in the US but shipping requires a permit so buy from a reputable breeder. These come in a wide array of colors from gold, blue, ivory, pink, purple, blue, jade and various striped varieties.





Other snails include marisa snails, which are really cool large ramshorn shaped snails. They can be hard to find legally though, as with canas.





Malaysian trumpet snails are great tiny snails that keep substrate stirred in the tank and are plant safe and completely legal.





There are many types of snails, these are just the most common. You can find them in many pet stores, or ask the pet store to order them. Otherwise, you can check www.aquabid.com in the snail section for breeders who will ship or www.applesnail.net has a forum with people who list snails for sale as well.





Snails ship very well so don't be too concerned about that part of it. :)





Any snail that is too big to fit into the newts mouth should be safe as long as the newt isn't too overly aggressive. Larger brigs, canas and marisa might work best for your situation, depending on where you live.