hitchiking snail

[mishi8]

I just picked up a couple more zebra snails and amano shrimp, and in the bag I found a tiny snail. It's got a conical shell, but this snail is so small, I'm having a hard time telling what type it actually is. I phoned the store and they said it's probably either a Malaysian Burrowing Snail or a Ramshorn, and to just toss it out. As far as I can tell, though, the shell definitely isn't a ramshorn, and it doesn't seem elongated enought to be a Malaysian Burrowing/Trumpet Snail...the shell seems more full at the base, and turns a couple of times to the right.

Is it safe to add this snail to the tank as well, or am I better off assuming it would be more of a pest than a benefit? Of course this whole thing may be moot, if there were more hitchikers that I didn't see.

 

[MargieMay06]

I have a ton of little snails like that. I don't mind them too much. I think they add interest, but if you don't like the idea of it possibly reproducing like crazy, then you'd best not put it in the tank.

 

[arronaf79]

I would becareful, I had a similar situation with a snail that reproduced like mad. Nothing the addition of 6 medium sized clown loaches could not clear in a few weeks. But till they got them under control they were everywhere.

 

[mishi8]

Not sure how I feel about having a ton of snails in the tank. If I take good care of the water and be careful about overfeeding they shouldn't be an issue. I am curious to hear what others think of what kind of snail this could be. It's definitely not a baby zebra snail. Could it be a trapdoor snail, pond snail, or is it possible it could still be a Malaysian Burrowing/Trumpet Snail? It's got a conical shell that turns to the right...quite full at the base, and seems to turn a couple of times to a good point at the end. It's light coloured at the base, and dark brown through the turns. I'd post a picture, but it's sooo small it wouldn't look like much!

 

[Beeker]

I'll bet it is a Common pond snail, and if I were you, I'd get rid of it fast! They reproduce like crazy, get inside your filter, and take over your tank. I had them. I still find them every now and then. Also, they can live through just about anything. When I found them in my tropical, planted tank, I started plucking them and and threw a few into my coldwater tank to see what would happen. I thought they had been eaten, but my filter started getting loud. I opened it up and found thousands of those little buggers and hundreds more egg sacks. I cleaned out the filter, I thought very carefully, but I still find a few snails every now and then. GET RID OF IT!!!

I have Ramshorns and they are not conical. The Trapdoor snails are more round than conical and when they are born you can tell right away what they are, since they give live birth. If it is a hitchiker, it is most likely a pond snail and I would get rid of it. If you want to see what it looks like as it gets bigger, you should quarentine it in a jar or something so you won't infest your tank.

 

[mishi8]

I have quarantined it...I think I'll keep it there and see how it does. Definitely won't add it to my tank...I really hope there weren't other hitchikers that I missed!

 

[Beeker]

Watch carefully. They will come out with a vengence if it is a pond snail. Another tell sign that it is a pond snail is their speed. The move very fast, for a snail. If I can find my cord for my camera, I'll try to get a picture of one of mine for you.

 

[mishi8]

It's probably a pond snail then. This little guy moves very quickly! I'd like to see a pic if you can get one.

 

[Beeker]

I still haven't found the cord to my camera. I just moved recently and everything is all mixed up. I will try to find it today but keep watching for more hitchikers and keep that little guy quarantined. It is most likely a pond snail. I have a 20 gal. tank dedicated to just snails. I have thousands of pondsnails and ramshorns. The Japanesse Trapdoor snails are the only ones I like in with my fish. I also use some ramshorns in with my fish because they are so good at keeping the tank clean. With the elephant shnoz on the Japanese trapdoor, they aren't very good cleaners.

 

[tomm10]

Its a Malaysian Trumpet Snail or MTS. They reproduce like mad and few fish will eat them. IME the whole "Don't overfeed and they'll go away" line is rubbish. I'm sure some have managed that but I haven't. I would toss him. The only good thing about MTS is they're mostly nocturnal. You still see some during the day though.