My First Snail Hitchhiker

Well well, I have my very first hitch hiker. Thank you Dolfan LOL (I kid...he warned me).

He's in V's tank and since V is a lone betta in a 10g, I am not especially worried about him.

He's a little thing so I assume he came in as an egg. Maybe I will be seeing a few more.

He is my first experience with snails. At his current size, is there anything I need to do to make sure he eats? Can anyone tell me what kind he is? Maybe, I dunno, Doooooolfaaan? Haha.

Rivieraneo, I think this is Tater haha

 

he will be fine just scooting around the thank eatting alge or extra fish food or what ever they suck up particals so it shouldnt be an issue but becareful because one turns in to millions lol

 

I'll be interested to see how your betta goes with it in the tank. I know all betas are different but I'm looking at May putting a snail in with my betta as cleanup crew.
Thanks for the tip of the water wisteria a couple of weeks ago. Bluey loves it

 

Gosh, they start out so teeny and cute. Then they take over. Lol

 

Haha well I am watching closely for anymore to pop up. I don't want the tank over run.

If it happens I have been itching for an assassin snail or will just employ the bait and catch method.

Who knows? Maybe V will even make a meal out of the little ones.

Today I noticed V was in his log flaring at the back corner of the tank which has nothing on it but the black background. It kind of reminds me of seeing a person talking to themselves haha but he has done it before so I didn't think much of it. 5 minutes later I see this little guy scooting across the back wall. So I think that's what he was flaring at.

I can't find him now I think he is currently behind the sponge filter.

Time will tell
Machine11 - Glad he likes it! V loves his and every day it covers a bit more of the surface despite terrible lighting. I am quite happy with it!

 

I've been looking for a Nerite snail to try and put with my betta. They're basically impossible to find in my area. After 4 pet stores in 3 different cities, I might have a lead.

 

Well best of luck, Delaney!

Is there any possible way anyone can tell me what type of snail he is, by chance?

I just spotted him again. He's actually on the sponge of my sponge filter, tucked in one of the divets. It's kind of a strong air pump, he'll be all right there?

 

My guess would be a pond snail.

 

That's what I thought too.

Cool beans. We'll see what becomes of him. He's FAST.

 

I have a random assortment always popping up in my 15 gallon planted. It's like finding easter eggs, except they are less colorful and not filled with candy.

 

I have a random assortment always popping up in my 15 gallon planted. It's like finding easter eggs, except they are less colorful and not filled with candy.

Fish candy, for certain fish?

 

I have a bunch of these bladder/pond snails after buying a few bunches of anacharis, I think they're cuter then most snails. They get cuter with ages too, I grew some pretty big before releasing them.

I don't feed them other then throwing in some veggies once a week.

 

Are they going to eat the live plants?

 

Are they going to eat the live plants?

Not in my experience. If they go on the plants, it's to munch on the algae or the decaying leaves. They actually do a wonderful job in keeping the plants healthy.

 

I don't want to take over the thread but have a quick question. I don't want the hitch hikers... Is it OK to "squish" them quickly and leave as food for the fish?

 

A lot of folks talk about leaving a piece of cucumber floating overnight. In the morning they say it's covered in hitch hikers
They just toss them in the trash.

 

I don't want to take over the thread but have a quick question. I don't want the hitch hikers... Is it OK to "squish" them quickly and leave as food for the fish?

If you have carnivorous fish, they may go after them on their own, no squishing required. If not, the squishing may just release a bunch of nastiness into the water column that could be harmful to the fish. Even if nothing is released, the uneaten decaying matter would not be beneficial to the overall health of the tank.

 

Are they going to eat the live plants?

Plants are usually safe.

I would be very cautious with them as I have had bad experience with hitchhikers.
It started with one little snail. Than weeks after I was killing them one by one, but they were keep coming back until I found their nest in my filter media.
Eventhough very small tiny snails they were multiplying extremely quick.

 

Warning noted.

He's been on the sponge filter since yesterday in various places leaving A LOT of snail poop behind him - at least I'd guess that's what it was. I'd been seeing that stuff in my tank for a few days and wasn't sure what was going on, now I see it's his.

How does a clean up crew make this much of a mess? Wherever he goes he just leaves a trail of little poops right behind him.

 

poeticinjustices.. I bought 2 assassin snails from Elmers and they have not eaten the ones I have now in Oro's garden.. I have not seen Oro attack them either. So there they are until they get too much.

 

I am beginning to hate this little guy. He just stays on the sponge filter, smart I know, and the whole thing is COVERED in snail poop.

I feed V very sparingly because of his tendency to get blocked up so I know I am not overfeeding.

How does what's supposed to be a cleaner produce so much waste?

 

That looks like a bladder snail... where there's one you can see, there are 20 you can't see. That said, they make good cleaners and will not overrun your tank. He's probably eating poop, fish food, and plant matter you didn't even know what in there.

 

Really? I have poked around quite a bit. My tank is planted but compartmentalized. Unless they're buried in the glass beads in the votives it's beyond me where they would be.

All I see is the bugger on my sponge filter where he has been since the day I spotted him.

It does mean all of HIS poop stays stuck to the sponge filter though haha. Easy break down.

 

They're really tiny when they're born. I keep them in my tanks on purpose, as I don't mind snails, but I'm occasionally surprised when I don't see any babies for a long time.... then all of a sudden, a plant will die and 40 bladder snails appear out of nowhere.

 

Oh boy lol.

 

It's probably a pond snail. I have a few in my tank, I try to eliminate them when I can. I usually just smush them and sprinkle back into the tank for the shrimp to eat. I rarely see them any more, as I was smushing 1 every few days or so for a while. When snails get out of control its usually the tank keepers fault in that it is caused by over feeding or poor maintenance. If you stay on top of it, they will never get too bad. You can use some blanched lettuce left in tank over night, then check in the morning for snails and remove them. Do this every day for a week and you will eliminate most of them.

As for eating plants, I have not seen them eat plants, but I have read other posts where people say that pond and bladder snails can and will eat plants, even healthy ones. That is why I try to stick to the 100% plant safe ones like MTS.