Some Hitch Hikers In My External Filter

[DevUK]

I was cleaning out my external filter this afternoon and I was quite shocked to find these little buggers:

I did purposley allow a few that I'd found on some plants to stay, but hadn't seen them in a while, so figured the goldfish had eaten them. Now I find about 20 in my filter! Picked out all the ones I could find.

Anyone identify them? Are they just common snails? I don't mind having snails as long as they won't eat my plants

I don't know what to do with these 20 now, I think my fish would eat them... I don't want to flush them (hence why I resuced them from the canister filter when I found them). Are they a "useful" or destructive snail?

 

[shaz3271]

yes there the common pond snail

imo there a pest and soon over populate the tank

but some people like to keep them to help with the cleaning of the tank

sharon

 

[DevUK]

Ah great, thanks for the ID

I might see if my fish will eat them... Yum yum *crunch*

 

[SouthernCross]

Same thing happened to me with those exact snails (mine came in on plants though). Wish I'd removed the first one, I thought he was cute but he quickly multiplied. My fish haven't eaten them. My fish - pearl gouramis, platies, cardinal tetras, cories. I've heard a species that eats snails readily are loaches like the clown loach. But those fish require tons of space cos they grow big. I'm always pulling the annoying little suckers out now. Never been overrun yet though, I think I keep pretty much on top of it - if I can see one in an accessible spot, out he comes.

P.S. Someone told me make sure you squoosh them OUTSIDE the tank though - squooshing inside can release hundreds of eggs (and not really helping your problem )

 

[jess6905]

iv got them n afew of my tanks. most of my fish eat them except for the guppies and tetras. if i put any in with my bettas or goldfish they are eaten within the next few minuts or days depending on the tank they are put in. if i put them in with the betta fry they grow and try to multiply but after the fry reach a certain size they start to eat the egg clumps between meals and eventualy start to eat those who matured as they grow.

 

[johnny70]

the smaller loaches like yoyo's will also eat snails and don't take up a great deal of room and they don't get huge!

Cheers
J

 

[yvez9]

I wouldn't worry about them
I just squish them against the glass and the smaller fish usually eat them then and it allows for a constant supply of fresh food
some fish (like cichlids or loaches) will eat them too (oscar, angels and bolivian rams will clean that up)

if they don't then try to get rid of them

 

[Benauld]

I have the same in my tank. I allow the larger ones to live, but squish all the smaller ones I see - and can get at easily - without disturbing the fish too much. Sometimes I feel guilty, but I guess it's just another form of predation... except this time I'm the predator, not my fish!