Hundreds of tiny snails. What are they? Should I kill them?

[imissmytruck]

I am not sure what these are but I have VERY many. I fear the bio load is too large for my tank. What do you think?

 

[Aquatic_Adam]

I am not sure what these are but I have VERY many. I fear the bio load is too large for my tank. What do you think?

What tank do you have? Those are Malaysian Trumpet Snails. I keep them in all of my tanks! They are helpful little snails that don't eat live plants, and burrow. This burrowing helps plants. I'd keep them if I were you, but each person has a different take.

 

[Aquatic_Adam]

Also, if you have an over abundance of them, that typically means you are overfeeding your fish. This leads for extra food for snails to reproduce.

 

[imissmytruck]

Thanks Predfan! So how large do they get?

 

[Aquatic_Adam]

Thanks Predfan! So how large do they get?

Ummm not too terribly large, unless you are fortunate enough to get them to grow that big! I think the biggest I've seen in my is like an inch.

 

[imissmytruck]

Great! Thank you! So now I have to find a way to stop the food from sinking so fast. My current is a bit string and for some reason my fish wont come to food...they wait for it to fall. They feed only once a day, but I fear I will have to reduce it too once every three days so they come up. Dunno. Plus I have 4 algea eaters so I have to sink food for them.
1 pleco, 1 Farlowella, 1otocinclus (had 3 but two bit it in the first week), and 1 random snail. I am just very relieved to hear they aren't bad for me!

 

[aqua_chem]

In some tanks, I will turn off the filter during feeding time. Helps the fish catch the chow or muster up the courage to go get it.