Snails - good or bad?

[Highfx]

morning guys,
A friend of mine suggested I get some ramshorn snails and drop them in the pond. They are natural algae eaters and will help control its growth.
I can get about 15 in the UK for £6 .....good idea or bad?

Any help with this is appreciated

 

[addy1]

I have tons of snails, they do eat up stuff, don't harm my pond or fish. When I step on one by mistake the fish eat it up.

 

[Faebinder]

I have some darters and dojo loaches in my pond. I will occasionally buy snails to resupply the pond as those two species love snails. I used to have tons of snails till the dojo loaches came along then . I dont know much about snails but I read most will eat Algae + LIVE and DEAD plants except those Japanese Trapdoor Snails, which focus on algae (not string algae).

 

[RobAmy]

I have tons of tiny snails, never put any in. They seem to like the stream, they are on many of the plants and rocks in the water. No issues here at all.

 

[sissy]

ramshorn do not take cold .I bought snails and my fish ate them ,all I had left was empty shells .I bought trapdoor and they were big so thought they would be fine but nope