allwet1

Getting ready to start the fishless cycle process and noticed some critters in the tank. Its been set up a few weeks and i put some plants in so something must have came in with them(no fish yet). I guess they are baby snails, look like amoebas with a rasping mouth(no antennae) about 2-3 mm long. So far they are just crawling along the glass. My question is: What do you think they are and will the added ammonia to do the cycling kill them?

krismoore888

yeh it sounds like snails, usually there are some on plants so that would m ake sense, im not sure if the ammonia will kill them, if not the are various things you can do to remove them, one is chemical, another is using Assasin snails and another is a fish that eats them but i cant remeber what they are, maybe a clown loach...

Nate McFin

I had the same issue pop up a week ago. The little guys fond their way in on a plant. I have pulled many out as they show up. I didn't find any yesterday and this morning pulled one that had started to develope a shell. I think it may be the last one....I will keep my out.
I am doing a fishless cycle and ammonia doesn't make one bit of difference to them(or so it seems) I think best bet is to continue pulling them out and or just (gross) squishing them as you find them. It sounds cruel but they were uninvited guests. I just hope I caught them before they had a chance to lay more eggs!
Best Wishes,
Nate

krismoore888

btw the assasin snails need a partner t reporduce, so just the one and you can keep i uder control, or just males, but it is pretty much impossible to sex th

agabr123

if you don't want them, then you can put a slice of cucumber on a veggie clip at night and sink it to the bottom of the tank, in the AM, take it out and there should be lots of snails on it

allwet1

There seems to be a lot more little ones(snails?) in the tank now. I put some zucchini slices in there tonight. I did not realize it floats, so i weighted them down with lead strips. Dont want to put any fish in until the tank is fully cycled. I may check out one of those assasin snails though.

eepruls

I, too got snails from plants and I have decided to start the cycle over again after bleaching everything. That is the only way to get rid of all the pond snails and their eggs. There are just too many in my 10 gallon tank and they keep reproducing regardless if I put lettuce in the tank or manually take them out when I see them. I am constantly taking out snails and it's gotten to the point where I don't even enjoy looking in my tank for fear of seeing more snails! So, my condolences on seeing snails! The next time I get live plants, I am bleach dipping them and quarantining them for a while! Good luck.