Fish are playing

pnyklr3

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Yep, you read it right...my fish are playing with a teeny snail they found in the tank. I bought some grasses about a month ago, and I had put some of the smaller pieces in a breeder net. Today I noticed a snail in the breeder net, so I rounded it up and tossed it in with the rest of the tank. Well, one of my clown loaches came by, picked it up and spat it out. Now the dwarf cichlid picks it up, swishes it around in his mouth, and spits it out. He's been doing this for about 5 minutes now. I'm not sure if he's trying to eat it or not. I'm really surprised the clown didn't munch on it right away!

One question, what will happen if this lone snail survives? Will it reproduce (I have heard that snail don't always need another)? Have I been fed baloney about snail reproduction? I don't want them to get out of hand.
 
Snails are hermaphrodites (both male and female) but most of them (as I understand it) need 2 to erm... tango. However... I think that there are some species that can, quite literally, go **** themselves. :lol:
 
*Gasp* Will they be deciding to munch on my live plants as well, or will they be content with algae on decorations? I'm sure they'll fit eating into their schedule...right between ****ing themselves and ****ing eachother. :p

Maybe one of the other clowns will find it and eat it. Honestly, I wouldn't know if it survived or not, that is, unless it starts multiplying.
 
Early days, but a good way to get rid of them, if they do take over, is a slice of cucumber weighted down over night, then in the morning it will be covered with snails, so you can take them out and get rid of them as you see fit.
 
Thanks for the good advice! I will be doing that in a few days, probably, to see if they've eaten it. Or perhaps it will be waten while it's on the cucumber!! :lol:
 
ddm18 said:
Snails are hermaphrodites (both male and female) but most of them (as I understand it) need 2 to erm... tango. However... I think that there are some species that can, quite literally, go **** themselves. :lol:
Not all snails are hermaphrodites. Snails usually sold as aquarium inhabitants such as Pomacea bridgesii (Golden apple/Mystery) are not (some have reported differently, but its not been proved). But if it has come in on a plant, then it is probably a pond snail, which as ddm18 states can reproduce if there are two and sometimes even only one as they can store sperm for 6 months.

If the snail is big enough to identify, try http://www.applesnail.net (not just apple snails) for an ID and detailed breeding info. If you are lucky it will be a species that lays its eggs above the water surface and you can simply pick the clusters off your hood as they appear.

Even if they do lay thier eggs below the surface, it sounds like you have a couple of snail cleaners in the tank anyway, maybe the clown was just not in the mood for snails, even I hate kebabs sometimes :D

Jon
 
Looks like it is from the Family Planorbidae (kinda looks like a ramhorn). It is/was very small, I would say less that 1 cm. The website says that they lay eggs on stones and leaves, which I take to mean under water. Not to worry. I think that between the 3 clowns, bristlenose, sharks, tetras, and cichlids they should be taken care of. Funny that it took me so long to notice it.
 
Yep, ramshorn snails do lay eggs under water and your fish should take care of them while they are still tiny or still eggs so no harm should come to your plants. If you do start to see plants suffering you could try putting a lettuce leaf in at night and removing it in the morning covered in snails, but dont think you will have a problem. Khuli loaches will also eat the eggs, and get into smaller places where the eggs may be laid.

Jon
 
ddm18 said:
Early days, but a good way to get rid of them, if they do take over, is a slice of cucumber weighted down over night, then in the morning it will be covered with snails, so you can take them out and get rid of them as you see fit.
that doesnt work lol
i tried it and in the morning there was one snail on it (and i have loads)
 
I started of with 1 snail,which quickly turned into 100.s if you can see it,Take it out of the tank now :nod:
 
my pest snails clean the tank dosent realy mater that i have a thousand that just me but my mystery snails keep dieing i wish i had baby snails
 

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