Mysterious Snail!?!?!?!?!

chromiskid

I just recently set up a 2 gal aquarium and there was a snail in it. I did not stick any snails in the tank. Now, 2 weeks later, there is 4 other little snails! Can someone please tel me how they got there? I would post picks but my camera makes them fuzzy or has a bad glare.

Thanks!

Fishcricker

It probably hitchhiked with something that you put in your tank. Plants? Gravel from another tank? If you don't want them in there, now is the time to start taking them out before they take over your tank like some snails can do. I use a turkey baster in my larger tanks and then just squash them.

Lupin

Malaysian trumpet snail
Ramshorns (Planorbids)
Bladder snails (Physas sp.)

Which one of the three?

chromiskid

I looked at all three
Drum roll please
It was the bladder snail. Do you have any info on these snails? Oh, and thank you!

Lupin

They're asexual and can reproduce without mating. Eggs are laid in sacks and can be found everywhere. Get ready to kill many of these as they are unsightly in large numbers. Just squish them and the fish will eat them right away.

chromiskid

Okay, I will. could I just throw them in the brackish water canal in my backyard? I'm not a big fan of killing things... I do see some egg sacks on the side of the tank; if I scoop those of the sides will my fish eat them? Or is that a bad idea?

Thanks!

Lupin

Don't release anything alive in the wild regardless of the circumstances. Think twice of the consequences. Just stomp them or crush them and the fish will eat the dead snails. That is not painful as it is instant death for snails.

syrinx

Ditto what Lupin said. Dont even consider releasing them (or any thing else, including plants). Killing a few snails is better than taking a chance on killing an entire ecosystem.

chromiskid

Ok

Tyyrlym

It's unfortunate but the release of non-native species into an ecosystem can be devastating.