Common pond snails and common ramshorn are the most frequently unintentionally introduced snails in FW tank, especially planted ones, as their egg masses are frequently deposited on the plants themselves. Neither is harmful to healthy plants and most of my planted tanks have one of both of those snails, plus MTS, and some with Olive Nerites as well. None of my tanks has any, repeat any, overgrowth of snails, nor any plant damage from snails.
If you have an overgrowth of snails, you have one or more of the following:
1) excessive fish food and the snail population increases to match that food supply, or
2) excessive alage and the snail population increases to match that food supply, or
3) unheathy dying plants and the snail population increases to match that food supply.
Healthy planted tanks which are not overfed or overstocked do not have snail problems. Snail problems are tank management problems arising from the keeper's practices. Snails can only grow and multiply to meet the available food supply. If you have excessive snails, re-examine your practices on operating the tank.
HTH
If you have an overgrowth of snails, you have one or more of the following:
1) excessive fish food and the snail population increases to match that food supply, or
2) excessive alage and the snail population increases to match that food supply, or
3) unheathy dying plants and the snail population increases to match that food supply.
Healthy planted tanks which are not overfed or overstocked do not have snail problems. Snail problems are tank management problems arising from the keeper's practices. Snails can only grow and multiply to meet the available food supply. If you have excessive snails, re-examine your practices on operating the tank.
HTH
