A very long time ago (well over a year) I added floating (Anacharis) plants. Even though I rinsed well (well water), soon after I had lots of tiny snails. I can't identify the species.
The mystery is that these snails typically grow to about a quarter the size of a pea or so, then disappear (die) and a new generation of tiny snails is repeatedly born from egg clusters I've seen on glass and plastics.
I'm wondering if it's normal for these snails to have relatively short life spans or the lack of sufficient algae or something else keeps them in check?
Can you find a photo online so we can ID the snail?
Snails do not get large in my tanks, due I believe to soft water. The Malaysian Livebearer manages fine in soft water, and these I have hundreds of and some can sometimes get to 3/4 of an inch, rarely more. The pond snails need calcim, and although I am now keeping them in the tanks they are not many.
A Pic would definitely help. Some of the common snails in the hobby are Ramshorn, Acute Bladder, and Malaysian trumpet snails. From the description you said by stayng small I would bet it was Acute Bladder snails. Posted via Mobile Device
Hey Ab Dad , I have a snail kinda like what your describing are the egg clusters clear with white dots ? These are more than likely pond snails or ramshorn a direvative of one of these species . The fact that they are dien so soon is what you thought more than likely . The lack of food source , mine usually dont get ecual to a english pea but I have a couple that are a bit larger than said pea size so its hard to say . But if your looking to get rid of them your in for a problem it aint easy . If you get assasins then your tradeing one snail for another , and you cant get a fish to eat them cause you wont have them forever and then you got a fish you didnt really want wich aint good either for the fish . It may sound awfull but you could wait till the adults have gone and just eggs are left and add a small dose of a copper based medication , not enough to affect fish but a minute dose just to eliminate the eggs you cant see . Wait for the adults to die before you do this if you do so the waste from the dead wont be great , the eggs shouldnt foul the water to bad . These are just ideas to help you get rid of the problem if you see it as one . Myself I like the snails , they clean the tank excellant and airate the sub as well and they clean the plants also so they are good tank mates for any tank .
No, although they were unplanned 'volunteers', I wasn't looking to get rid of them. (Not that I'd especially want them by the zillions either).
I was just curious as to why they continue to have short life spans. I don't have any real developing algae so wonder if there just isn't enough food to support them.
I'll try for a pic but they are so small and don't pose well.
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