snail question

[montanaxvi]

I have to ask, since I do not know. I looked around here and cannot find exactly what I have, and since Best Buy is fixing my digital camera (for the 2nd time) I cannot post pics.

I have a 10gal Betta tank, that I just added some mystery snails to for a little color and algae control. I have an albino, a black, and a golden. I have never had snails before and was just wondering what I am seeing in the back of the tank. The best I can describe it, is like small clumps of black specs. I have had the snails for a week and never noticed anything like this before which makes me also believe it could be eggs, however what I have been reading here the eggs are all clear or have white dots in them? These for lack of a better description look almost like microscopic rabbit feces pellets in tiny clumps on the plants and back area of the tank. Some of them are more clumped while others are in small bunches of 2 or 3. The reason I say rabbit feces, is due to the fact they are all black best I can tell with no surrounding gel or anything like the pics of other snail eggs I have seen posted here.

OR,

Could I just be seeing clumps of snail poo? Does it form like this, or does it look like fish waste? Again many questions since I am new to snails. I would not be bothered in the bit if I were to get some baby snails in the tank, but my understanding is to rid the tank just cut back on feeding some?

Thanks as always for all the great information and input.

[TKOS]

Sounds like eggs. They will get darker as they get ready to hatch, which sounds like it may be soon. If you don't want a bunch of extra snails then I would try to remove the eggs now (you will need to scrap them off). If you do want snaisl then leave them alone and they will take care of themselves.

[Lobo.]

although cutting back on feeding will help with eliminating excess snails (if the need ever occurs) the best way is to either remove the snails by hand or their eggs. although the snail population may explode rapidly, it will probly level off as algie is eaten and they will be less of a problem, unless you over feed...

[montanaxvi]

I am fine with having them in there, all it is, is a 10gal betta tank. He gets a flake or two of food every night so over feeding is not an issue, the algae is a bit wild, which is why I got the snails in the first place. I have it set in a location where it gets a ton of direct sunlight everyday and the betta seems to love it so I do not plan on moing the tank, with the decorations I have in there, the algae actually made it look much more cooler imo, so I never thought twice to leave a bit of it alone while doing my regular changes and gravel cleanings, it was just in the last week that the algae began to look unsightly so I took to getting the snails to take care of the excess for me :)

[OrionGirl]

What type of snails are they? Most snails sold as mystery snails are a type of apple snail, and they don't lay eggs submersed, but rather put them above the water line in a foamy looking case. Check here: http://www.applesnail.net/ for more info.

[montanaxvi]

I purchased them as a Gold, Albino and a Black mystery snail, being told that they would work for some algae control in a 10 gallon betta only tank that has one sole single betta in it.

Looking on applesnail.net and I see NOTHING that looks anything similar to what I am seeing in my tank. I REALLY wish I had my digital camera so I could take some pics. Will have to see what I can get together.

The things I see are all black, not at all clumped up like the snail eggs I am seeing pictures of online. They are more strung out along the plants and back wall of the tank, while some are in small bunches the majority of them are spread around with a small bit of them on the heater near the top of the tank.

I did not notice them at all until I was at the tank today looking around, given what I have read about the gestation period, and someone above stating they get darker closer to hatch time, I think I would have seen them before today. Now with the Black snail could they possibly be from it? Just trying to throw things out since I really know nothing about snails (until I started reading today)