About 2 weeks ago I bought some new plants. Tonight I noticed 3 tiny snails in my tank! I have to assume they came in with the plants? I know NOTHING about aquatic snails.... How many might I expect, what should I do?!? Should I keep them, cull them, do they mutiply?? Help!
Snail help needed!
- Thread starter Amanda Killops
- Start date
Probably pond snails. They multiply like rabbits, but frequently hitch on snails. You can pick them off, but after two weeks, there are probably eggs somewhere.
Nothing to worry about. They are pest snails more than anything else. Some people like them, but the population can get out of control in a hurry. Some fish will snack on the smaller ones. It is not at all unusual to have pond snails come in on plants-- commercially bought from pet stores, or otherwise.
Nothing to worry about. They are pest snails more than anything else. Some people like them, but the population can get out of control in a hurry. Some fish will snack on the smaller ones. It is not at all unusual to have pond snails come in on plants-- commercially bought from pet stores, or otherwise.
Thanks Somervell, but if I pick them out what do I do with them then?? I hate to kill things, but are they able to survive in the air like normal snails? Can I let them go outside in the garden? If the plants did harbour eggs, how many snails do you think I will get? I can manage 2 or 3 but not any more than this!
Never NEVER put anything into the wild from your aquarium. Bad bad thing to do. If you can get a picture of the snail it would help ID what kind you have. The key to keeping down your snail population is to not overfeed. I don't mind having snails in my aqarium because they eat leftover food, help clean any algae pop ups, eat dead/decaying plant matter and my loaches love to snack on them.
Ditto fastfly's post. Never put things from your aquarium into the wild; it can become an invasive species or simply introduce parasites/viruses/bacteria that the native population has no protection against. Like fastfly said, it's bad.
If you don't want the snails, you can lure them into one spot using a piece of lettuce, spinach, or cucumer. Once they gather on it (leave it overnight and remove in the morning is a good way), simply remove the veggie and any snails near it. If you see egg sacks, just smush or wipe them away. Also, make sure not to overfeed since that will make them breed like crazy. If you feed an appropriate amount, then they will not breed at nearly the same rate.
I like having snails for the same reasons as fastfly except the fish that eat them for me is my figure 8 puffer, and I have to remove the snail from the freshwater tank to the brackish tank the puffer is in. Some people like to use them as sort of a canary in the fish tank where they know they are overfeeding if the snail population starts increasing.
If you don't want the snails, you can lure them into one spot using a piece of lettuce, spinach, or cucumer. Once they gather on it (leave it overnight and remove in the morning is a good way), simply remove the veggie and any snails near it. If you see egg sacks, just smush or wipe them away. Also, make sure not to overfeed since that will make them breed like crazy. If you feed an appropriate amount, then they will not breed at nearly the same rate.
I like having snails for the same reasons as fastfly except the fish that eat them for me is my figure 8 puffer, and I have to remove the snail from the freshwater tank to the brackish tank the puffer is in. Some people like to use them as sort of a canary in the fish tank where they know they are overfeeding if the snail population starts increasing.
I like the luring with a piece of lettuce idea, but once I take them out the tank what do I do with them? If I can't put them in the wild would I have to kill them? Don't fancy doing that. Do you think my local aqaurium shop would take them? (After all, it was their **** plants that started it!)
Amanda, there is no nice way to say this. First of course do all the things advised above (not overfeeding etc). But if they still get to the point where they are cluttering up your tank, I suggest treating them just as you would any other creature that you couldn't keep and couldn't give away, and give them a painless death. Gather them on the lettuce leaf, put them in a cup with a little water and stick them in the freezer.
It's one of the hazards of the hobby. You didn't do anything intentional to cause it but you are stuck dealing with it. Most if not all of us have been through the same situation, or go through it every time we bring in new plants. It's a hassle.
Some folks will probably advise getting an assassin snail or a fish that eats snails to clean them up for you, but then you are stuck with what to do with them if they do their job too well. Better to deal with the situation as it exists.
best of luck whatever you decide....
It's one of the hazards of the hobby. You didn't do anything intentional to cause it but you are stuck dealing with it. Most if not all of us have been through the same situation, or go through it every time we bring in new plants. It's a hassle.
Some folks will probably advise getting an assassin snail or a fish that eats snails to clean them up for you, but then you are stuck with what to do with them if they do their job too well. Better to deal with the situation as it exists.
best of luck whatever you decide....
it sounds like you have introduced what some may consider pest snails to your aquarium. they will most likely multiply if you do not get rid of them soon since they may disappear from your sight (in fact you might not have seen them all), there may also be eggs in which you are not seeing.
i doubt you will only have 2-3 snails if you left your aquarium as is unless you don't feed your aquarium.
if you don't feel comfortable properly disposing of these snails. there are several ways you can remedy this problem. i personally highly recommend prevention in the first place, (you should really look into some methods for future reference, i have an old thread on a couple methods, you can check for threads made by me).
But you can either get a fish/snail that will actually eat snails.
these fish include certain loaches (i.e. clown loach) (most loaches will at least eat small snails, they actually suck the snail out of the shell so you're left with cool shells) or a puffer fish which actually crushes the snail (watch out, puffer fish shouldn't be grouped with any other type of fish as they may nip or harass them).
you can also buy an assassin snail which will suck out the other snail. these snails don't breed out of control but you need to have a steady supply of snails or they may starve.
if your snail population does get to be too much for you. you can lure the snails out at night with a lettuce leaf and put the leaf into another tub of water and have it be a dedicated snail tank. then you can put a couple assassin snails that would live in there. i know yadokari does this, you can try to PM him for help on this.
there are many more methods including chemical treatment (like potassium permanganate which will kill all inverts in your tank, a big no go if you have shrimp, crayfish). you should be able to find a method to suit your need.
i doubt you will only have 2-3 snails if you left your aquarium as is unless you don't feed your aquarium.
if you don't feel comfortable properly disposing of these snails. there are several ways you can remedy this problem. i personally highly recommend prevention in the first place, (you should really look into some methods for future reference, i have an old thread on a couple methods, you can check for threads made by me).
But you can either get a fish/snail that will actually eat snails.
these fish include certain loaches (i.e. clown loach) (most loaches will at least eat small snails, they actually suck the snail out of the shell so you're left with cool shells) or a puffer fish which actually crushes the snail (watch out, puffer fish shouldn't be grouped with any other type of fish as they may nip or harass them).
you can also buy an assassin snail which will suck out the other snail. these snails don't breed out of control but you need to have a steady supply of snails or they may starve.
if your snail population does get to be too much for you. you can lure the snails out at night with a lettuce leaf and put the leaf into another tub of water and have it be a dedicated snail tank. then you can put a couple assassin snails that would live in there. i know yadokari does this, you can try to PM him for help on this.
there are many more methods including chemical treatment (like potassium permanganate which will kill all inverts in your tank, a big no go if you have shrimp, crayfish). you should be able to find a method to suit your need.
Thanks for all the help guys, think I will wait and see how many I end up with by next weekend. If they still seem to be multiplying will do the lettuce leaf trick and then take them all to the shop that sold me the plants!
