Common snails?

**andrew73** · 18th Apr 2011, 16:29

Hi all,

I bought a piece of driftwood tied with flame moss and found out later that there was a snail and a cluster of eggs which eventually hatched. Now, I have about 5 snails crawling around.

Are snails generally a non-threat to the tanks? Will snail overpopulation be an issue? Does anyone want some snails? How do I differentiate the types of snails?

Thanks!

**mlgt** · 18th Apr 2011, 20:14

Take a photo of the snails so we can identify them. Else you can just squish them as you find them if you consider them a pest.

**v_nod** · 19th Apr 2011, 23:12

Highly likely to be pond snails. Take a photo.

Check out this website to find out which snail:
http://www.planetinverts.com/

**andrew73** · 30th Apr 2011, 02:12

Sorry, tried my best to take a shot or 2 and these are what I got.

If they're harmless snails, what should I do? Leave them alone? Harvest them? Squish them?

Thanks...

**Stormz** · 30th Apr 2011, 11:47

Get some assassin snails to clear them out if you don't want them to devour your plants.

**beetlejuice403** · 4th May 2011, 18:10

Originally Posted by andrew73

Sorry, tried my best to take a shot or 2 and these are what I got.

If they're harmless snails, what should I do? Leave them alone? Harvest them? Squish them?

Thanks...

Hi andrew73,

if I'm not wrong, those are common pond snail (which came FOC with your DW & flame moss)... If you don't mind having them in your tank, you may leave them alone. However, they are very efficient in reproduction & can get out of hand in the future... Up to you to squash them or otherwise...

**jasperapi** · 6th May 2011, 09:29

I agree to get rid of them. I have same issue some time ago, at first I thought they are quite cute, but some how they reproduced too fast & i have to squash them 1 by 1. but their number was so big & end up i have to get killer snail to do the job!

**hellomyfriend** · 6th May 2011, 22:14

irritating fellows they are.

**lizhien** · 9th May 2011, 15:26

Had to throw away an entire plant because of them. They got out of hand and my assassin couldn't keep up. Even picking them off with a tweezer couldn't work as they laid eggs under the leaves.

**andrew73** · 10th May 2011, 11:44

What species is the 'killer snail'? Does it replace the common snail apart from devouring it or any other side effects?

So far, I've managed to count 11 and it's holding at that. I brushed away 1 cluster of eggs which I spotted, hopefully there aren't any more. Also, I'm trying as best to discipline myself for the feeding so as not to give any excess! Squishing them seems cruel tho...wondering if there's a more humane way like dumping them in a giant pond, perhaps?

**lizhien** · 10th May 2011, 12:44

Not sure of species, but assassins reproduce relatively slowly. The best way for your tank is to get rid of them asap. If u don't wanna squish them, take a container and throw all the snails in them with some water and leaves. Then throw into the bin to consign them to their fate.