Snails

[BIG BAD BARRY]

I have some fry in a breeding tank which is in the livebears tank.

There are some pieces of torn up marimo moss balls in the breeding tank as well.

The other day i noticed some tiny dark shelled snails with lighter specks in the breeding tank and they grew to 5-6mm within days.

I dont have any live plants in my tanks except for marimo moss balls. I have had them from a reputable supplier several months ago and there was no sign of any snails.
The torn up marimo moss ball was from my main tank which had split so i tore it up and kept it in water on the window sill for about a week till i put it into the breeding tank.
I have not put any new fish in the tanks recently either that could have carried eggs in on their body.

There are some small snails in the livebearer tank now as well as they must have escaped from the breeding tank.
There are none in my main tank.

I do have golden apple snails in both tanks but i have not seen them lay any eggs.
Would golden apple snails have dark shelled baby snails?

 

[Monty-2010]

i think the marimo balls might have done it, you might not have noticed some of the tiny eggs that hitched a ride in

not sure on the apple snails

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

The balls have been in the tank for nearly 3 months.
Is it still possible after that long period of time?

 

[3l3ctric]

I think that, depending who they breed with, golden apple snails can definitely have darker babies (although I think that two identical gold ones make gold babies..not up to snuff on my apple snail genetics though, don't know if the colouring is recessive). However, apple snails lay clutches of eggs along the water line or just above it - it looks like a strange pink glob. You probably would've seen it first. Apple snails don't just pop out babies, which I think you knew though.

Maybe something was keeping the other snails controlled before, but now it's not? I know that when I had my planted 20 gallon set up awhile back, my kuhli loaches would sometimes eat the eggs/little snails. Sometimes I would randomly get a burst of them, even if I hadn't added anything new or hadn't seen any for months. I think it just meant that I had overfed - my loaches didn't eat the babies, and the babies had a ton of food.

ETA: btw, I can't stop staring at your avatar chewing. What the heck is it from?

 

[Monty-2010]

I'm not the best on snails but i've heard of some nerrite species taking up to 3 months for the eggs to hatch, but you do need brackish/salt water for those. so it could be other species take as long

 

[BadBadger]

Cant help you with where they came from but if you want rid then send em to me

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

I think that, depending who they breed with, golden apple snails can definitely have darker babies (although I think that two identical gold ones make gold babies..not up to snuff on my apple snail genetics though, don't know if the colouring is recessive). However, apple snails lay clutches of eggs along the water line or just above it - it looks like a strange pink glob. You probably would've seen it first. Apple snails don't just pop out babies, which I think you knew though.

Maybe something was keeping the other snails controlled before, but now it's not? I know that when I had my planted 20 gallon set up awhile back, my kuhli loaches would sometimes eat the eggs/little snails. Sometimes I would randomly get a burst of them, even if I hadn't added anything new or hadn't seen any for months. I think it just meant that I had overfed - my loaches didn't eat the babies, and the babies had a ton of food.

ETA: btw, I can't stop staring at your avatar chewing. What the heck is it from?

I have seen photos of apple snail eggs. They have been very active during the day now as well going to the water line, so will wait and see!
Thanks for the info.

The avatar: its a character called brown from Purple and Brown. Have a look on youtube.

I'm not the best on snails but i've heard of some nerrite species taking up to 3 months for the eggs to hatch, but you do need brackish/salt water for those. so it could be other species take as long

Will let them be and see how they develop.

Cant help you with where they came from but if you want rid then send em to me

Will bear it in mind!
If its any type of snail your after including the pest snails that frequently come with live plants then try asking your LFS. They get 100s in the tanks sometimes and will happily give them to you for free.