Strange Tracks In Sand!

divegirl · Jul 14, 2011

Hi I have a 55 usg brackish tank with three GSP's in it. Recently I have noticed tracks in the sand :unsure:

The only other thing that I have put in the tank are two MTS for food.
Any ideas? I have rarely seen the puffers on the sand bed other than to rest at night and these are deep pronounced tracks....

Lisa x

Pics to follow

divegirl · Jul 14, 2011

Sorry....not very good with Photobucket!

KkAaNnEe · Jul 14, 2011

It looks like a snail to me, but you would think it was on the menu lol just keep a look out for something. Where do the tracks lead?

This Old Spouse · Jul 14, 2011

Snails.

divegirl · Jul 14, 2011

I agree that it looks like a snail trail but unless I have some sort of prehistoric hitch-hiker that has come into the tank via dead ocean rock [that has been bleached to kill off algae] or from dead sea fans....shipped in from Portugal or a salt resistant MTS [that can fight off three puffers :hyper:

]................ What species would you suggest!!!! Sg is currently 0.12
Any way it's big water change time this weekend...so I will make sure the sand is 100% flat and take it from there! Most unusual though!

Lisa x

Le Sorcier · Jul 14, 2011

Thats the trail of a Malaysian Trumpet Snail.

My tanks are covered in trails every morining.

divegirl · Jul 14, 2011

I always thought MTS were fresh water though :unsure:

If I am wrong and it is a MTS then I'm scared to put my hand in there now....it must be one mean ****** to fight of my Puffers!

Lisa x

I corrected....MTS can live in sg 1.14 Wow Its' well 'ard my snail :hyper:

Lisa x

divegirl · Jul 17, 2011

Just a quick update. I have just done my fortnightly big w/c and did indeed find a rampant MTS in the tank, my son took one look and said no way was that making those tracks. He was right, 5 mins later found another one twice the size that must have been in there for months! Bit concerned about putting them back in as they will need a little time to bury themselves before the Puffers spot them :sick:

Oh and I've upped my sg so it could be bye bye snails anyway!

Lisa x

This Old Spouse · Jul 17, 2011

divegirl said:
Just a quick update. I have just done my fortnightly big w/c and did indeed find a rampant MTS in the tank, my son took one look and said no way was that making those tracks. He was right, 5 mins later found another one twice the size that must have been in there for months! Bit concerned about putting them back in as they will need a little time to bury themselves before the Puffers spot them
Oh and I've upped my sg so it could be bye bye snails anyway!

Lisa x

You could help them along a bit by very gently burying them in an inconspicuous place so they can stay hidden from the puffers. It would really be a shame to sacrifice them.