Has A New Guest In His Tank... Can Anyone Help?

[JohnFizzle]

So ive just got my first two fish in my new tank (after an initial disaster start) - two guppys.

Anywhos' Ive had this thing floating around the tank for past few days. i actually thought it was a poop and it would go away.. (naive noob fish owner!)
So ive actually got it out today. and its actually a shell kind of thing. Reaaal tiny it is. but i have no idea what it is or how its got there. There seems to be something living in it.. as small as it is, it sticks to me finger..
Any ideas!?? is it safe?

**i did buy a plant when i got the fish.. wondering if its come off of this?

 

[fishy55599]

if you brought a plant i would say a common pond snail, they do sometimes float

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Sounds like a snail to me.

 

[JohnFizzle]

I think it is a snail
the thing dropped to the bottom when i put it back in. just spent 10 mins looking for the #41#### thing. its managed to stick itself to the side of tank now and can see the little... horn things?? *please excuse my awful noobiness* so yea. a snail?
Are they ok to be in the tank with the fish? i kinda like the idea of it. a stray snail )
And also, if its cool to keep in there, do they get big much?

 

[orangefish]

It should stay pretty tiny, and they are harmless to the fish. They are great at cleaning algae (if you have enough of them) but do be warned that if there is another one in there and they breed, it won't take long before there are hundreds of them! You should keep him, they are quite cute! :L

 

[Twinklecaz]

and bigger fish will eat him till he gets too big.

I had some snails and am 95% sure my Platys ate one of them!

 

[justjon]

I thought snails didn't need two of them to breed?

If I were you, personally, I'd take it out even so.. if they do breed, they breed like mad and can end up being a nightmare.

 

[Katch]

I thought snails didn't need two of them to breed?

some do some don't

 

[JohnFizzle]

Well. Since posting the inital thread. Ive already found another. even smaller than the original. Breed, they definatly do. And them not needing another to breed sounds feasable.. there was definatly only one in there.. think ill remove him.
The idea of one little snail roaming about is cool. But at that ridiculous rate ill end up with a snail tank.

 

[Shelby]

I would take a very small jar, sink it in the tank with some frozen lettuce in it and try to get as many out as possible. If there are two there are probably more and they will take over your tank like you wouldn't believe! Especially if you over feed your fish.

 

[JohnFizzle]

I would take a very small jar, sink it in the tank with some frozen lettuce in it and try to get as many out as possible. If there are two there are probably more and they will take over your tank like you wouldn't believe! Especially if you over feed your fish.

Noted! ) worst case scenario... if the tank did get over infested.. will it affect the fish or the levels in the water?

 

[Shelby]

Well it would have to be a severe infestation but I guess everything that produces waste is going to affect the water quality.