divakeeks

Ok, so here's the situation. I had a few mystery snails in a 5 gallon tank. They have all died from unknown causes (although it could have been related to my galaxy pleco who liked to suck on their shells - not sure though). A while back when the snails where still alive, I noticed something on the lid of the tank that I thought was due to water splashing up and building up. I picked it off the top and threw it away. A few weeks ago, I noticed another one but left it there because I figured if it was going to keep coming back, it was easier to just leave it there.

I have sense discovered that it was snail eggs. I knew (and I guess know) nothing about snails other than they are fun to watch in the tank. They all have very different personalities.

My 5 gallon is now FULL (and I mean full when I say it) of little snails. I do not want to get rid of them because I think they are really cute!

My question is ... I want to get rid of that tank. Is there a proper way to move the snails to another tank? I imagine that I would have to very carefully remove every glass marble from that tank as I am sure there are a million snails below the marbles as well. I have had the tank for a long time and I wanted to replace it with a 10 gallon.

Any suggestions on saving my snails and losing the tank?

Thanks in advance. Also, any resources on snails or the raising/feeding of them would be stellar if anyone knows any. Thanks again.
Divakeeks

***Before I get the "lecture" I am currently (as I type) reading the other posts in this forum and finding some resources. If anyone knows of any information not already posted, I'm interested in reading. Thanks!

Chief_waterchanger

Most snails can survive out of water for short term periods.. Why not pull your substrait out, use your siphon to do a change into a bucket or some such. Make sure when pouring the bucket out to run the water through a net or strainer to catch the snails you may have siphoned, then either pick them from the tank glass or put a little water in, swirl it, pour it out through a net. Most snails are resilient little buggers. (My MTS and Ramshorns survive all sorts of abuse when I do waterchanges on tanks they're in.

divakeeks

Awesome! Thanks for the tip. I was just worried since most were so young. I certainly don't want to harm them and didn't know if they were fragile at such a young age.


Thanks again!!