Pest snail?

[Sparx]

Just noticed this little guy, he’s appeared out of nowhere, never seen him before! The tanks been set up for about a month and has live plants, which I’m assuming is how it got in there.
Is it a pest snail? Do I need to get rid of it? Will it be ok to leave it in there?
Your advice is much appreciated

 

[MattW]

Looks like a Ramshorn I got them too in both tanks off plants from Etsy. I have no problem with pest snails and see them as a beneficial part of my tanks others will disagree. Numbers will increase if the tank is overfed. That's the best way to regulate snail population is to control feeding amounts

A ramshorn's handy work on an Anubias leaf in my 90L. Forgot to pay him the full amount so only did half the job

 

[GaryE]

All snails are pest snails.

But ramshorns are the best of a bad lot!

 

[Back in the fold]

All snails are pest snails.

But ramshorns are the best of a bad lot!

Tell them why the Ramshorn is good Gary . This bit of information was a real eye opener to me and it’s been awhile since the tale was told .

 

[Sparx]

Ok cool I’ll leave it be and just watch feeding amounts then

Looking forward to hearing what else @GaryE has to say

 

[GaryE]

Okay. I approach this as a fishbreeder, of egg laying fish. The standard pond or bladder snail is a ferocious egg destroyer. But ramshorns put in a petrie dish with killie eggs didn't eat them. I was told this, and being a skeptical sort, I collected up snails and killie eggs, and decided to see for myself. I tried with the two standard pest snails, and that was the result. I didn't have any trumpet or burrowing snails at the time, to test them.

Ramshorns will over-run an overfed tank. They still die and rot unseen inside their shells, which affects water quality. They are all still pests in the closed system that's a tank. But as far as pests go, they aren't the worst. They're mice to the pond snail's rat persona. Fancy snails are just rodents of extraordinary size.

 

[sharkweek178]

Ramshorns will over-run an overfed tank. They still die and rot unseen inside their shells, which affects water quality. They are all still pests in the closed system that's a tank. But as far as pests go, they aren't the worst. They're mice to the pond snail's rat persona. Fancy snails are just rodents of extraordinary size.

This can be a tool. A lot of the effects of overfeeding aren't immediately visible. So if you have ramshorns and see a lot of them, then you know that you're overfeeding and need to cut back. I like to think of them as a bellwether in that way.