Eek! I just found 2 univited guests in my filter

Inga

I was pulling my floss from my filter when an uninvited guest showed up. A SNAIL Then another I was so careful not to get any snails on plants but a few days ago I was talked into getting 2 Mystery snails. I was assured these are NOT the kind of snails that will get out of hand. So only a few days and there are 2 snails in my filter? I actually didn't look any further, I just put it back and am sitting here wondering what I do now.

One thing I know, I do NOT want at tank full of snails. Where did these creatures come from. Could my mystery snails have bred and produced little snails already? What the heck. Any suggestions?

I know I read on here somewhere that you shouldn't even touch them or your fingers will stink and you can't get rid of the smell. How do people deal with these little critters? HELP!!! As usual, I am freaking out!

Mettalikatt

It'd be nice to have a pesticide for these creatures.. that was fish safe or cleared from the water with the use of prime* so you could kill them off and transport your fish to and fro in a day's time.

aunt kymmie

I've never read that about a stink you can't get rid of, lol. I crush the baby snails in my tank with my fingers all the time. I crush them in the tank and the fish eat all the guts, they love it. Gross, I know, but I don't want them getting out of control either. Don't freak out, I have snails in all my tanks and I have not been overrun. I think mostly I crush the ones I do in order to let the fish have a special snack.

PS. Mystery snails, to my knowledge, will not get out of hand. Maybe these are little common pond snails that hitch hikes their way in? Any chance of a pic??

CaliforniaFishkeeper

For Mystery Snails? YOU FIEND!

aunt kymmie

I'm sure Mettalikatt was referring to common pond snails. The poor lowly common pond snail, they just don't get any love.

Inga

So what you are saying is, if I want my Gourami to eat them, I have to do the dirty work? Ugh! This whole fish tank thing is getting the be a murderous nightmare. I am not built for this kind of thing. Why? Why, I ask? I did not invite these nasty little things. I also read of a snail called an assassin that would kill the snails but then, it would kill the 2 mystery snails that I did invite as well right? Then would I get over run with assassins as well?

CaliforniaFishkeeper

I love to feed them to my other creatures. Mainly my GSPs.

aunt kymmie

Inga, I'm as soft hearted as the next person but you clearly have me beat. I've never given a second thought to crushing a little snail that might take a bite of one of my plants. I wouldn't bother with assassins, as you could end up with more of them than you'd want, and they will kill anything with a shell in its path. They are really cool looking snails, though.

I'd say, don't freak out, let the snails be and I doubt you're going to have problems. Don't overfeed your tank (I know that you don't) because if snails aren't "fed" they won't over populate your tank. It's all about balance.

Inga

German Shorthaired pointer?


Kymmie, There are few things on this planet that I like less then rodents but once there was a mouse stuck to one of those nasty little sticky traps and I had to run it to the vet to have it removed. I can't stand seeing anything suffer. I am not opposed to the use of those snap traps that make it quick but I cannot deal with a mouse or anything slowly dying.

I know that snapping a snail will be quick but I am not in a place I can do that yet. If my tank does get to many, maybe I will invite my 12 year old nephew over for a day of boyish behavior. Then again, I don't want him to commit violent acts either. I will just hope for the best for now and feed my fish a bit less.

I wish they would quit staring at me with those hungry little eyes.

CaliforniaFishkeeper

LOL. Green Spotted Puffers.