Small Snails In The Tank

[Wadsleyowl]

I am totally new to the hobby, we have a pearl 40 tank with 3-4 neons & 2 phantoms although one phantom did die. However everything else remains well or appears to be. I do however keep getting very small snails appearing, I keep taking them out. Is this the right course of action or are they harmless

Seccondly would one of those "sucker fish" that stick to the side of the tank remove them.

Thirdly, I keep getting a film on the top of the tank, the guy at the shop just suggested a piece of kitchen roll from one side to the other & it should remove it although he does not appear to be that interested unless you are buying fish, so I won't be bothering him again or buying from him for that matter Could it be due to the fact that the pump is submerged & therefore the top of the tank is not getting "agitated" or is that not the case

Sorry for all the questions.

Pls help.

 

[stormy78]

I am totally new to the hobby, we have a pearl 40 tank with 3-4 neons & 2 phantoms although one phantom did die. However everything else remains well or appears to be. I do however keep getting very small snails appearing, I keep taking them out. Is this the right course of action or are they harmless

Seccondly would one of those "sucker fish" that stick to the side of the tank remove them.

Thirdly, I keep getting a film on the top of the tank, the guy at the shop just suggested a piece of kitchen roll from one side to the other & it should remove it although he does not appear to be that interested unless you are buying fish, so I won't be bothering him again or buying from him for that matter Could it be due to the fact that the pump is submerged & therefore the top of the tank is not getting "agitated" or is that not the case

Sorry for all the questions.

Pls help.

The snails wont do any real harm as far as I'm aware but I tend to remove them as they breed like mad and your tank can quickly get over run. Plecs wont eat the snails so I would suggest just removing them. Do you have any live plants? Generally the snails get into the tank from plants you may have added. If I'm wrong hopefully a more experience forum member will give you some advice

 

[Wadsleyowl]

Yes I do have plants, and I gave them a real good wash b4 planting or so I thought. I am wondering if they have come from the plants, What do you or anyone else suggest about the film on the top of the tank?

 

[stormy78]

Yes I do have plants, and I gave them a real good wash b4 planting or so I thought. I am wondering if they have come from the plants, What do you or anyone else suggest about the film on the top of the tank?

I'm not sure about the film sorry. With regards to the snails sometimes the eggs are on the plants and it is easy to miss them.

 

[charlton]

with regards to the oil flm, i've read this could be down to a few thing but isn't dangerous to your fish but if you want to get rid of it either use kitchen roll as you were advised or use a cup to draw in the oily film ! As for the snails i had the exact same problem and posted on here a few weeks back, snails are asexual which means they can reproduce on there own hence why they can quiclky take over your tank. I was adviced to get some sort of loach which eat snails as part of their diet, and they have been doing a superb job, now i'm just constantly clearing out empty snail shell from the bottom of my tank. Be very careful though cos some loaches grow very big !! Hope this helps !!

charlton

 

[mark.w.jones]

Good pinned article here on snails:

<a href="http/www.fishforums.net/content/Inverteb...th-pest-snails/" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/content/Inverteb...th-pest-snails/</a>

Oily film is likely to be from frozen food you may be feeding your fish. Or hand cream / moisturiser from your hands that you may be using.

Surface water should have some agitation at all times to aid oxygenation. Usually this can be done from the spray bar on the filter outlet pipe. If you have a pump, then aiming it towards the surface will of course help as well. Conversely you should not have too much agitation as this will increase water loss by evaporation.