Snail emergency..! New tank..

[Shattered04]

I'm so new to fishkeeping I have literally only just filled up the tank (Fluval Roma 240 LED)

I've been doing as much research as I can, and it didn't take long before I found out about fishless cycling and obviously that is the right thing to do - especially as we don't know anyone with any mature filter to use.

I decided to take the risk and have a few live plants (Java moss, two anubias) just to make the place look more interesting while I wait. However the LFS suggested popping some snails in, as apparently he does this whilst waiting for his tanks to cycle.

Being new to the whole thing, this didn't sound unreasonable so I agreed, and he sold me five fancy looking snails. I have no idea what these snails actually are, which is awkward. They're long and pointy, dark brown at one and and have stripes. He said they were like rabbit snails but if he did say the name, I didn't catch it.

Anyway, I get the snails home. The tank is now filled with water, soil and (washed) sand in, water conditioner in, and being heated (and about to sort the filter out) bogwood is out soaking in a bucket - so far, so good..

Except my plan was to dose with Biomature, and now I've actually read the instructions, it says on the side not to use in a tank with invertebrates. This presumably means snails. A search online suggests pond snails survive nuclear explosions but with more ornamental ones it's tricky to say if they'd survive the ammonia spikes from a cycle.

I was also sold "Pure Aquarium" balls as a bacteria source, but I have no idea what to do with those. Can you cycle with just those alone? I'm not able to find any answers anywhere. I decided even if I didn't use them for cycling, they might come in handy at some point.

Is there any way to cycle the tank with the snails in it? I am guessing not..

So say I wasn't going to put my snails in the tank (which would seem wise) what can I do with them whilst my tank cycles? How can I keep them alive? What do they need?

I have zero aquarium equipment other than that which I've just bought, I can Amazon Prime stuff I'm sure but I don't want to spend a small fortune on five snails.

How long are they likely to live at room temperature anyway?

It goes without saying I am kicking myself for listening to the dude's advice. He did seem to know what he was talking about but then he probably just cycles his new tanks off his old ones..

Any suggestions very welcome!! Thank you!

Brief update - the tank water temperature is up to 27C, so I've put the snails (and a bit of sand and the anubias pot) into a (washed!) Paw Patrol bucket which I've wedged into the top of the tank "floating" in the tank water but obviously separate inside the bucket.

I'll get a decent clear container to replace it later on today so they can get some light too. I've also ordered some algae wafers and I'll change some of the water every few days.

This may well be how they stay until the tank is cycled! Does it sound reasonable?

If anyone is following, 72 hours later and all five snails are still alive! They've had a water change (had to measure out a tiny amount of dechlorinator - I do need it, right?) and an algae biscuit thing and seem quite active still!

Sadly I don't know anybody with a mature filter to get some media from so I can speed up the cycling, so they will have to live in their Klippit clear bucket floating in the tank (clamped to the side with big clamps!) for a long while yet..

I've gone down the Biomature route, and so far readings are as expected on day 3, so that's something gone right at least!

Hi. This forum seems particularly quiet. I am a novice fish keeper too, and recently joined the Tropical Fish forum. There's a wealth of knowledge on there, and the members are very helpful and experienced.