Whoah!! How in the heck did this happen!?!?!?

[Megalofyia]

Here I am watching my fish having a nice relaxing time before I got to sleep when I notice something I haven't seen before. . . a snail. Now I have never had any snails in any tank ever. Where did he come from? I know guppies reproduce like crazy but I dont' think they produce snails ever and I dout the ghost shrimp have mutated.

Should I be concerned that my tank is sprouting new life from nothing?

 

[SixFootDaisy]

Do you have real plants?

 

[illuminum]

If you have recently added plants in the tank, it is very possible that they were on the plants when you bought them from the store...

 

[Megalofyia]

Not real plants now but maybe that's how I got it. I HAD a plant but it got devoured..
Thanks

 

[cdawson]

yeah if they're ramshorn or common pond snails they ate the plant. I'll be willing to bet that's what they are.

 

[hisc1ay]

Live plants is how I got snails, and snails is how I lost my plant. It's a vicious cycle. I'll give you money if they didn't come from the plant.

-j

 

[Pacu Man]

just a common practice on introducing new plants is just to give them a rinse through first that removes any snail eggs or any other unwanted bugs from your plants

 

[Megalofyia]

I had rinsed the plants but perhaps not enough. It was a Micro Sword. It was my fish that ate the plants that I know.. They ate the plant quickly too, in a matter of two days it was all gone.

 

[Oscar]

When I sell live plants from my LFS I always give them a dip in a strong solution of Salt water. That will kill most of the hidden eggs.

 

[Allivymar]

Its always recommended to QT plants as well as fish before putting them into a main tank. Never know whats coming along with them.

That being said, I got a plant order yesterday and the only tank I can put them in is the tank they're supposed to go into LOL My QT has snails. I purchased a dip called LIME-IT. Its supposed to kill snails, snail eggs, hydra, etc. We'll see how it works as i dipped the plants and they're in the tank now *fingers crossed* Potassium permanganate and alum are also recommended dips; never used em.

 

[RogerMcAllen]

What about a copper dip?

 

[Allivymar]

Heh, forgot about copper. I tend to avoid that as I've heard it cam be harsh on sensitive plants. Works tho

 

[Megalofyia]

I actually think my problem has been solved... I can no longer find the snail and the eel is looking rather pleased with himself. On another note. I added a cobolt blue crawfish. If there are anymore sneaky snails around will he help the eel and take care of them? And I know that eventually the eel will get big enough to eat him.. but I am goignto move the eel to a bigger tank once he gets to a certain size.