Snails...where do they come from?

[jolaf]

Hi,

I have no live plants never have. Never bought a snail but low and behold i have a baby snail in my tank. Where did it come from Could it have been on a fish?

 

[rdd1952]

It could have been in the bag you brought your fish home in. Snails are extremely small when hatched so It would have been easy for you to not see him in the bag and dump him in the tank.

 

[cyprinut]

Does it look like this?

 

[jolaf]

Yes that is my snail where did you get him hehe After thinking back when I got my barb I remember the fish person saying well you got a litlte gift of a shell. It must have been alive. I think its cool it cant make more without another snail so I plan to leave it be. Thanks for the input.

Does it look like this?

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[mifty12]

I like having snails in my tank and for some reason i'm awash with them, it doesn't bother me cos i just squash 'em on the tank glass and my diamond tetra's go mental for them, free live food, can't beat it.

 

[OohFeeshy]

If it has a pointy shell, its a malaysian trumpet snail, which are good snails to have. They burrow in the sand and help uncompact it.

 

[cyprinut]

Oh yes, it can make more all on its own. I'd bet good money you see more than one real soon.

They give birth to live miniature versions, and are nearly impossible to completely eliminate from a tank. That said, they do have beneficial effects like Oohfeeshy said, strirring the substrate and helping to keep it aerated. Also, they are good barometer of you feeding habits. If the population just explodes, then it is a good chance that you are feeding the fish way too much as the MTS eat the leftover food as well as the slime on plants and glass. If they start getting out of control, reduce feeding amount. Picking them out by hand can help keep them in check as well. Personally , I enjoy watching them, as long as they don't take over a tank to the point of distraction from the fish. One warning- if you get a lot of them in your tank, beware treating you fish with any copper-containing meds. It will result in a mass kill-off of the snails, and the rotting bodies will send ammonia levels soaring.
Regards,
cyprinut

 

[jolaf]

After reading there will be more I am not so happy. So, medication kills them off? :0)

Oh yes, it can make more all on its own. I'd bet good money you see more than one real soon.

They give birth to live miniature versions, and are nearly impossible to completely eliminate from a tank. That said, they do have beneficial effects like Oohfeeshy said, strirring the substrate and helping to keep it aerated. Also, they are good barometer of you feeding habits. If the population just explodes, then it is a good chance that you are feeding the fish way too much as the MTS eat the leftover food as well as the slime on plants and glass. If they start getting out of control, reduce feeding amount. Picking them out by hand can help keep them in check as well. Personally , I enjoy watching them, as long as they don't take over a tank to the point of distraction from the fish. One warning- if you get a lot of them in your tank, beware treating you fish with any copper-containing meds. It will result in a mass kill-off of the snails, and the rotting bodies will send ammonia levels soaring.
Regards,
cyprinut

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[cyprinut]

For now, just pick him out and any more that may (or may not) show up. If they do, and it get's bad, cut back feeding first and come here before you dose your tank with anything. Check out the invertebrate forum lower down on the board. Good luck.

 

[jolaf]

Thanks I will do that

For now, just pick him out and any more that may (or may not) show up. If they do, and it get's bad, cut back feeding first and come here before you dose your tank with anything. Check out the invertebrate forum lower down on the board. Good luck.

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[rdd1952]

They give birth to live miniature versions, and are nearly impossible to completely eliminate from a tank. That said, they do have beneficial effects like Oohfeeshy said, strirring the substrate and helping to keep it aerated. Also, they are good barometer of you feeding habits. If the population just explodes, then it is a good chance that you are feeding the fish way too much as the MTS eat the leftover food as well as the slime on plants and glass. If they start getting out of control, reduce feeding amount.

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You are right that they can explode. I had one or 2 and not I probably have 100, all very tiny miniatures, less than an 1/8" long. I'd never thought about the over feeding thing but that is probably the problem. I will cut back on what I feed. I just have so many bottom feeders in my 29 gallon (5 corys and 7 shrimp) I want to make sure they get enough to eat.

 

[jolaf]

I have a few bottom feeders as well I guess that is why I overfeed. I jsut got the coolest clown loach today I am in awe watching him . Call me a nut ok I am hehe

They give birth to live miniature versions, and are nearly impossible to completely eliminate from a tank. That said, they do have beneficial effects  like Oohfeeshy said, strirring the substrate and helping to keep it aerated. Also, they are good barometer of you feeding habits. If the population just explodes, then it is a good chance that you are feeding the fish way too much as the MTS eat the leftover food as well as the slime on plants and glass. If they start getting out of control, reduce feeding amount.

[snapback]909198[/snapback]​

You are right that they can explode. I had one or 2 and not I probably have 100, all very tiny miniatures, less than an 1/8" long. I'd never thought about the over feeding thing but that is probably the problem. I will cut back on what I feed. I just have so many bottom feeders in my 29 gallon (5 corys and 7 shrimp) I want to make sure they get enough to eat.

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[rdd1952]

Just remember that clown loaches get very big and need a large tank. He will outgrow the 30 gallon you have. They also are schooling fish so they need to be in groups of 3 or more.

 

[jolaf]

I am getting the 95Wave tank he and his freinds will do well in there ya think?

[http/www.all-glass.com/products/featured/95waveaquarium/

quote=rdd1952,Sep 17 2005, 08:53 PM]
Just remember that clown loaches get very big and need a large tank. He will outgrow the 30 gallon you have. They also are schooling fish so they need to be in groups of 3 or more.

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[jolaf]

Oh yes the guy I was talking with the LFS was saying the clown loach could live up to 20 years is that true? Also, it could reach 11 inches in length?

Just remember that clown loaches get very big and need a large tank. He will outgrow the 30 gallon you have. They also are schooling fish so they need to be in groups of 3 or more.

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