Snails - Baby snail infestation?

[Divinityinlove]

Hi, Hope this is the right place to ask! If not, please let me know to move and which section.

If you've had this happen, whether you're happy about it or not, I'd like to receive your expertise and experience please!

I've just noticed we've got about 6 baby snails all over the tank, which I'm sure means there will be more?
I put in 5 live plants from an eBay seller weeks ago.

1. Is this likely where the eggs have come from?
2. How else might they usually come in and hatch?
3. I was told at Pets at home last year when we found 1 adult accidental snail addition, to not worry about any eggs hatching as they don't usually hatch? Didn't think to look this up further.

4. Why are these baby snails in our tank?
5. How likely is it they will continue breeding?
6. Will I need a snail assassin or how else can I depopulate/get rid of them essentially? (sorry to ask this one, but we just don't want an aquarium full of them! I don't even know what type they are)

I'll be veryyyyyy grateful for your ideas.

 

[Circus]

You can simply pick them out and toss them in the trash. Or place a piece of vegetable in the tank, wait until you see them attached, then toss the veg in the trash. Repeat until satisfied.

 

[Cydeth]

If you can show us a photo of the snails we will be able to identify them for you, but they will almost certainly be either bladder snails or Malaysian trumpet snails.

Live plants are the most likely source, and as far as what pets at home told you, they lied. I'd advise against believing anything that they tell you, they are unreliable to say the least and independent research is always preferable.

They will keep breeding, more so if there is an abundance of food available to them, so try not to overfeed. Pick out the snails you can see and do as Circus said above, place a thoroughly washed piece of lettuce in the tank in the evening and wait for the snails to go and feed, then remove as many as you can.

You are unlikely to get all of them, but at least it will reduce the numbers a little.

Assassin snails are an option, but they will also likely breed, albeit slower than the snails you have already.

 

[Avel1896]

Anentome "assassin" helena is an option.
There's another one :

 

[Essjay]

They could also be the tiny species of ramshorn snail, they are treated the same way as other pest snails.

The person at P@H obviously does not understand about snails. One type of snail - nerite snails - do indeed lay eggs which don't hatch, but most other snails lay eggs which can and do hatch. Malyasian trumpet snails don't lay eggs at all as they are livebearing snails.

I have tiny ramshorns, physids (eg bladder snails), Malaysian trumpet snails and nerite snails in my tanks. They are actually a useful part of a tank's ecosystem unless their numbers get out of control. The way to stop them taking over is to restrict their food - uneaten fish food, fish poop etc - by not overfeeding the fish and keeping the bottom of the tank clean.

Have a look at the photos here and see if you can identify yours.

Freshwater Snail Species In The Hobby

Basic Terminology for Identification Anatomy: Foot: the bottom, muscular portion of the animal used for locomotion. Siphon: a proboscis-like appendage appearing on the side of the shell in some species. Mantle: the soft tissue inside the opening of the shell. Spire: the conical part of a...

www.fishforums.net

 

[Divinityinlove]

Thanks everyone, great suggestions. Yes the ONE striped shell we had for a year got in under a coconut or something unnoticed..leaves white eggs, none hatched. Bought some JAVA Moss which has turned out the culprit. EBay seller said he'd written on his page there's a "small" chance snails could come in with them as they don't soray anti snail stuff cause of the copper or something? He said almost certainly they're ramshorns and ergo favourable ones. Some are, but I've noticed some other different looking ones.

AS FOR PHOTOS: They're tooooo small right now to show up, especially in my huwaei camera which doesn't focus up close! I'll try to share some once a little more defined.

Wholesale tropics uk fish shop in Bethnal Green, the kady dais the assassin snails don't breed I don't feel very confident in their sales team now that I know they do as mentioned above. I'll have to try the jar and lettuce. I just don't want to handle or look at them as I'm phobic to certain slimey creatures unfortunately. Luckily my partner can help.

Thanks a lot.