Found snails - What Should I Do?

So I just got a 5 gallon freshwater tank a week or two ago. It has live plants (that aren't doing too good) inside. Today, I discovered two tiny snails. I consulted a different forum and found out that they are bladder snails, and they can reproduce asexually. I have become attached to them, but then I did some research and found that they are pests, and can take over a tank and eat the plants. I am a bit worried now. I really like them and how adorable they are, but I don't want them to take over the tank, especially since the tank is so small. They can eat algae and be good cleaners, but I don't want them to take over, eat the plants, and harass anything I put in there...
Upon closer inspection just now, I'm 80 percent sure I just saw a few baby snails on the plants.
I'm facing a dilemma.
I will be adding African Dwarf Frogs to the tank as soon as I can figure out why the plants are dying (I don't think it's the snails; there are too little of them and there is some visible algae for them to eat) and I'm thinking that they might eat the snails anyways.
So here are my choices:
A) Pluck any visible snails right now out of the tank (I have a good pair of tongs I can use)
B) Use some other method to get rid of them (I've heard that alum can help? I don't know if it is safe for the plants though)
C) Leave them alone and maybe the frogs will eat them
D) Squish them right in the tank and let the filter deal with it
Can someone advise me on what to do? I've even named them, but now it seems I'll have to kill them all...

 

Welcome to Fishlore

Bladder snails don't actually eat live plants; they feed on decaying plant matter, biofilm & algae.

Snails and Slugs (Gastropoda)

You can leave them in, but I would recommend occasionally taking some time to pick them out. If you don't have the heart to kill them, you can always set up a pickle jar in direct sunlight, so that it grows some algae. You can also throw your decaying plants in.

 

HI goldfishglam!
Have you considered pea puffers aka dwarf puffers? You could keep one in a 5 gallon tank, and they love eating snails! I personally haven't kept them, but they look super cool! Also assassin snails seem to get rid of other snails... and as a plus, they look gorgeous!
.
(Btw I am new so I hope I am doing the right thing!ops Otherwise, I think that A would also be a good option...
The final option would be keep the snails with the ill(?) plants and if you were worried about the frog you could keep him/her in a different tank? Its hard to get rid of things you get attached to!
I hope I helped a bit!

 

HI goldfishglam!
Have you considered pea puffers aka dwarf puffers? You could keep one in a 5 gallon tank, and they love eating snails! I personally haven't kept them, but they look super cool! Also assassin snails seem to get rid of other snails... and as a plus, they look gorgeous!.

(Btw I am new so I hope I am doing the right thing!ops Otherwise, I think that A would also be a good option...
The final option would be keep the snails with the ill(?) plants and if you were worried about the frog you could keep him/her in a different tank? Its hard to get rid of things you get attached to!
I hope I helped a bit!

A pea puffer may be a good idea, though I hear they are a pain in the rear to feed. They also don't tolerate other tank mates be it frogs or fish. An assassin snail might be a better option

 

Thanks to all who replied! I appreciate it. I think I will leave them in , maybe pluck a few out occasionally.

 

I didn't have the heart to kill them either. I only had four total and a few egg sacs on my hornwort, so I gathered them up and put them in a little critter carrier by the window. there are now probably 25 snails in there and I feed them pieces of cucumber and zucchini, which they love. unfortunately the biggest one that I pulled out of my tank, snelly, died after laying several egg sacs. she's been the only fatality so far.

here's a pic of them eating cucumber. my container also has a lot of paramecium and either mature paramecium or worms, which are all the tiny specks.




btw that is the cutest adf in your profile pic, is it yours???

 

If you want to pluck some to keep them under control, and don't want to squish (that can feel yuck) you can drop them in saltwater. I keep a solo cup nearby with a tsp of salt & just enough water to dissolve and I flick them in as I clean up my tank. Instant death, no suffer.

 

Cool picture, and it isn't mine, unfortunately! It is cute tho haha

 

Cool picture, and it isn't mine, unfortunately! It is cute tho haha

I plan on using a pic of one of mine when I eventually get one

 

I plan on using a pic of one of mine when I eventually get one

Assassin snails do not combat this problem my pea puffers maybe pec at them, 1 of my 2 Bettas eat quite a few and my two stink pot turtles eat the largest ones, I'll always allow them in tanks because they no longer are a problem, oh and when I had zebra danios they also wasn't a problem as I think the danios ate the eggs

Sent from my Moto G (5) using

 

I have an agreement with my snails. If they stay down lower than mid way into tank, I won't pluck and squash them.. they came with my water sprite and multiply like crazy.. I was recently gone for 4 days and on my return 6 had made it to the top of the tank. They truly are a nuisance.

 

Assassin snails do not combat this problem my pea puffers maybe pec at them, 1 of my 2 Bettas eat quite a few and my two stink pot turtles eat the largest ones, I'll always allow them in tanks because they no longer are a problem, oh and when I had zebra danios they also wasn't a problem as I think the danios ate the eggs

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

I do beg to differ, I had a ramshorn snail problem the 3 assassin snails took care of the problem in a few months. You may not see immediate results, but give it time.