[Sylverclaws]

These little guys came in on a plant...started out with two, then had more. lol They haven't bred TOO much, but there are more now, I think I have about eight or nine in there now and they haven't hurt anything. Except I was assuming they were assassins because my pond snail problem vanished after a few months of having these guys around, found many empty shells, some had a little hole in the back which I hear is an assassin thing...

Some people have told me they're trumpet snails, others say assassin snails. I've had them for about a year and a half or so now. This one I am positive is one of the kids, the two adults I had had much, much darker markings and thicker stripes, were also bigger...so yeah, they seem to be flourishing and surviving pperfectly in my tank, which is fine by me, I just want to know what they are.

 

[Dveha]

assassin snails are usually banded down their shell instead of stripped like that picture. Looks more like a trumpet snail to me.

 

[Boredomb]

Not a Malaysian trumpet.

 

[Sylverclaws]

So...what kind of snail is it?

 

[jaysee]

Should I worry about the snails in my substrate? | Features | Practical Fishkeeping

The snails in the picture look like yours.

 

[Sylverclaws]

So according to that, they do indeed look like the Red-rim melania, which is a type of Malaysian Trumpet Snail, if I read that right. Says they outcompete other snails for food, can eat fish eggs, and can carry really nasty parasites that can infect both fish and humans...lovely. However, they're such popular "Pest" snails and they haven't caused me any issues, nor have they over-bred in my tanks. So I'm not worried. lol I just have to not eat them. xD If they're that great at competing with other snails for food though, and the fact that I don't over-feed if I can help it, that explains why my other snails died. Well...actually it doesn't seeing as most of those snails can live 1-2 years without food. >>;


Anywho, thanks for that, tells me what they are! =) And I rather like them, I have some other MTS that are more the solid green/brown color in my other tanks, some with more color to them is also nice. So unless I missed something...and because they've done nothing that bothers me since I got them, I may as well keep them where I've had them. lol I actually have them in my nursery tank and they leave all my fry alone too. Even the ones who sleep on the substrate.

 

[Boredomb]

They sure are pretty and look much better then my Malaysian trumpets!

 

[Sylverclaws]

If I can get them to breed more, I'll be more than happy to mail you some, Boredbomb. lol They honestly haven't bred much, don't hurt my plants or fish, did out-compete with my other snails for sure though. They're nice little snails. I do have a about half a dozen more than I started with. lol At least as far as I've found, so if I put in more food JUST for them, maybe they'll breed more, my nursery is kept pretty clean, though I leave algae, what very little I get in there with my algae loving critters, alone.

 

[Boredomb]

I wouldn't want them to kill off my MTS and pond snails but thanks Sylverclaws

 

[BWG]

The MTS in my tank look just like those in your picture. After 6 months I still have them and pond snails. Haven't had a problem with keeping both types alive together.

 

[Boredomb]

I generally don't either with my MTS but mine are just brown. Thinks I got jipped!!

 

[Sylverclaws]

It was most likely less out-competing and just not enough food in there, so both I suppose. I had snails I didn't want, so I wasn't feeding them. ^^; I just wanted some plants for the kids, darn it. LOL
They keep my nursery a lot cleaner than it'd be without them though, even if they do have their own waste...these seem to love the flakes too big for my fry, or the stuff they miss. I had seen a couple snails run them off of algae wafers or chunks of greens, but they always came back. :3

 

[Boredomb]

Sylverclaws you I think if you do get more then you let me know. I would like to get s few as I think I could put them in my plant tank and it be alright. Just really wanna see one those buggers in person. LoL