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Hi Folks,
Last night I saw at least four trumpet snail shells in my established tank, a few hours after doing some significant re-scaping. It was a bit of a puzzler, but I assumed they were empty shells, the result of hitchhikers many months ago getting eaten by my loaches, unearthed during my scaping. I just assumed they were "shells only."
This morning I noticed the shells weren't there anymore. Looking around, I found one over in the corner, and it was moving. Alive!! So, presumably I've got some number of living probably Malaysian Trumpet Snails. But, HOW?
The tank and filter media were dry for 16 years. Brand new gravel (Fluorite Black and Fluorite Black Sand, with one bag of CaribSea eco-complete black) was put in early this year; tank started in April. All plants added by early June. Some fish added since then but all fish since the first few were quarantined and there are no snails in the quarantine tank (which has gravel and a few plants).
So, common logic would be that the snails hitched rides on my plants and have been undetected for six months. But:
Here are two pictures; maybe my snail-ID skills are betraying me, but these look like Malaysian Trumpets to me:
![Plant Wood Terrestrial plant Grass Fish supply]()
![Underwater Asphalt Road surface Marine biology Grass]()
Now, I LIKE snails, at least in moderation. I've never as an adult had a snail infestation, because I like to keep loaches.
I'm thinking of taking a few of these and popping them into my quarantine tank and turn it into a snail breeding tank. Then periodically I take snails from there and dump into the main tank for a loach feeding.
Anybody have any ideas how these guys came in undetected (I scrutinized every plant carefully), survived predation by 15 loaches for so long, and are just now coming to my notice? This is really odd. It's a good thing, just really odd.
Last night I saw at least four trumpet snail shells in my established tank, a few hours after doing some significant re-scaping. It was a bit of a puzzler, but I assumed they were empty shells, the result of hitchhikers many months ago getting eaten by my loaches, unearthed during my scaping. I just assumed they were "shells only."
This morning I noticed the shells weren't there anymore. Looking around, I found one over in the corner, and it was moving. Alive!! So, presumably I've got some number of living probably Malaysian Trumpet Snails. But, HOW?
The tank and filter media were dry for 16 years. Brand new gravel (Fluorite Black and Fluorite Black Sand, with one bag of CaribSea eco-complete black) was put in early this year; tank started in April. All plants added by early June. Some fish added since then but all fish since the first few were quarantined and there are no snails in the quarantine tank (which has gravel and a few plants).
So, common logic would be that the snails hitched rides on my plants and have been undetected for six months. But:
- There were some few snails in the June/July time frame, but these were I believe common pond snails, quickly eaten by my loaches. Haven't seen any since then. I presumed the eggs for these came in on the plants, hatched, grew, got chomped, end of pond snail period.
- MTS are LIVEBEARING snails. (Right?) So... while I can miss some eggs on plants, I would have seen the snails coming in.
- Again, LOACHES. I've got three zebra loaches, half a dozen kuhlis, and half a dozen dwarf loaches. While only the zebras can eat biggish snails, any of these will feast on smaller ones.
Now, I LIKE snails, at least in moderation. I've never as an adult had a snail infestation, because I like to keep loaches.
I'm thinking of taking a few of these and popping them into my quarantine tank and turn it into a snail breeding tank. Then periodically I take snails from there and dump into the main tank for a loach feeding.
Anybody have any ideas how these guys came in undetected (I scrutinized every plant carefully), survived predation by 15 loaches for so long, and are just now coming to my notice? This is really odd. It's a good thing, just really odd.
