Where did it come from?

[gminnick9]

I recently found a snail in my tank and I did not buy it!!! I have not purchased any new fish for about three months. I have no idea where it came from! It's shell is cone shaped and the snail is black. It does not climb, just stays in the gravel. Anyone with any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[JamisonBWolsh]

buy plants lately?

[Darkangel]

Sounds like a malasian livebearing aka trumpet snail. A burrowing species that aside from being unsightly in large numbers is otherwise harmless. A detrius eater so does not eat plants. Likely been there for a while as a baby and you just never noticed it.

[NJ Devils Fan]

It came with the plants that you have bought.

[Skippy]

My first bet it with plants you bought.

Second bet is that if this is a reasonably new tank it might have been in the substrate you added. I have seen substrate stored dry for months, put into a tank filled with water, no plants, no livestock, allowing it to start it's cycle and in a week you see them.

I am not sure thier life cycle, but I think they can go dormant during "dry periods" if my observation was correct. Any snail/plant gurus want to confirm of correct me on this one?