What is this?

[Dexter Leopard Frog]

I found this crawling about my tank I think it's a snail but not sure. Any body know what it is and whether it can harm my tank mates?

 

[Naughts]

A Malaysian Trumpet Snail. It won't harm the tank mates but it will have about 100 friends which live in the substrate.

 

[Essjay]

They are not bad to have in a tank, but their numbers can get out of control. If there is a sand substrate, they are useful for turning that over. They are also an early warning system - if you see them swarming up the tank sides in large numbers during the day, check the water conditions. They usually spend most of the day in the substrate though they do come out in the dark.

 

[GaryE]

It's benign trouble. They overpopulate, and can pollute water as they die in the gravel. Some aquarists value them - I don't. A pest snail, but not dangerous.

 

[Dexter Leopard Frog]

Thanks guys. I guess there is no easy way to get rid of them?

 

[Essjay]

Short of removing all the substrate and going though it grain by grain it's impossible to eradicate them. Leave just one and they'll be back in large numbers again.
There are snail traps you could try such as the one in post #4 in this thread

What are these bugs/snails/things in my tank!

Hello fishfourms! I have recently had a infestation of these "things" in my tank. I first noticed them about a week ago, I tried to remove them all, but now their population has exploded and THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. I couldn't take good pictures of them but I hope a description of them will help...

www.fishforums.net

 

[Colin_T]

It's a nuisance/ pest snail, kill it.