Snails?

[robyngunston]

Hi there!

I recently noticed these little white/grey dots on the side of my tank and wasn't sure what they were at first?
I mentioned them in the emergency section but no-one ever answered? I was doing a water change last night and I planned to just clean the so called white dots off.....but then found they were pretty much stuck on like glue.....you could move them around with the algae scrapper but they would not come off....after a much closer inspection I noticed they seemed to be moving, very slowly of course and maybe I am going mad but I think they may be little snails? Has anyone ever encountered this before and if yes are these creatures good or bad??

 

[Snick]

I have never encountered snail eggs, even though I have had a snail infestation in my tank... its horrible, and amazing, really. They reproduce so quickly, and if you arent careful, they will cover everything in your tank, so if you plan to leave them in your aquarium, get ready to regularly take dozens of these little critters out!

 

[robyngunston]

I have never encountered snail eggs, even though I have had a snail infestation in my tank... its horrible, and amazing, really. They reproduce so quickly, and if you arent careful, they will cover everything in your tank, so if you plan to leave them in your aquarium, get ready to regularly take dozens of these little critters out!

I don't think they were eggs...well I am not sure? I think they were just so small initially that I couldn't make out what they were?? How do you get rid of them and how could I have got them to start off with?

 

[Snick]

Well, I got them on purpose, to clean my tank, but I have noticed that when I buy my plants, some snail hitchhikers take a ride on them into my tank. There are very diffrent methods for removing snails, varying from traps to manual removal, but what I recommend is ataching a weight to a slice of lettuce or cucumber and letting it sink to the bottom. In time, the snails will find the slice and crawl onto it to feast. When the slice is covered with snails, remove it. Of course, a well infested tank will require various of these atempts to empty it out.

 

[robyngunston]

Well, I got them on purpose, to clean my tank, but I have noticed that when I buy my plants, some snail hitchhikers take a ride on them into my tank. There are very diffrent methods for removing snails, varying from traps to manual removal, but what I recommend is ataching a weight to a slice of lettuce or cucumber and letting it sink to the bottom. In time, the snails will find the slice and crawl onto it to feast. When the slice is covered with snails, remove it. Of course, a well infested tank will require various of these atempts to empty it out.

http/experts.about.com/q/Fish-1472/Tiny-...ite-Looking.htm
Found them!! Apparently they are planaria?

Maybe it's all the treatments I have been putting in the tank to save my sick fish?

 

[Snick]

I have no idea, I never had to use any medication in any of my tanks... srry!

 

[bleechme]

I know loaches eat snails, But I don't know about those white critters on your tank walls, maybe?

 

[Nevergone815]

planaria is a paracite tha is found in tanks and the fish in your tank actually eat them. they come from overabundance of food (ie overfeeding). they feed on this and don't harm fish. they don't harm fish but are a paracite by species hmmm... i could never grasp that, but thats how it is. like is said the fish will eat them and they and you will be happy. they feed themselves and you get rid of the pests.

 

[robyngunston]

planaria is a paracite tha is found in tanks and the fish in your tank actually eat them. they come from overabundance of food (ie overfeeding). they feed on this and don't harm fish. they don't harm fish but are a paracite by species hmmm... i could never grasp that, but thats how it is. like is said the fish will eat them and they and you will be happy. they feed themselves and you get rid of the pests.

Sounds good to me