About Christy Expertise I can answer some questions regarding freshwater fish ranging from their care to diagnosing common diseases or problems with the fish. I can also answer questions regarding the care and maintenance of an aquarium. I haven't had much luck with live plants, so can't help in that area very much. Not real good with explaining salt water or brackish set ups too well either. Also regarding goldfish, I have some comets, and have a little experience with them but mostly just general info on them. I AM NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH ANY OF THE FANCY VARIETIES OF GOLDFISH. YOU MIGHT BE BETTER DIRECTING THOSE QUERIES TO AN EXPERT MORE FAMILIAR WITH THEM. If I can't answer or don't know something, I'll let you know, so don't be upset if I reject your question, I'll always explain why. I would just rather not answer then give an answer I'm not confident about.
Experience All personal, first hand, general fishkeeping experience. I've had fresh water aquariums now for about 7 years. I've had tropical/community fish tanks, African cichlids, South American cichlids, brackish water puffer fish, and a lot of other varieties in between.
Education/Credentials None, all personal experience
Question Hi...
Not long ago i had bought a 10 gallon tank. But a few days ago i saw a snail in there, then the next day i saw 2 and now i have got at least 15 baby snails and 2 big ones. I never put them there, i think they might of got caught in the net when i bought the fish from the petshop.
I'm not sure what to do, are snails good for the tank? Or should i get rid of them now before they reproduce again? Or maybe just get rid of most of them?
Thanks... apprecaite the help
Answer Hi Sameem
It depends on if you want them or not :) A lot of people dislike them. I personally don't mind them, but you do have to be careful because they can overrun the tank-and quickly too! And when they die off, they'll foul up the water. I would research what kind they are, my guess would be their pond snails, or ramshorns snails usually those are the most commonly seen snails-and they do reproduce quickly. Malaysian trumpet snails you'll find on occasion, and they're actually beneficial at stirring up the substrate-they burrow in it during the daytime. Just do a quick search on those types and you'll find some photos, or if you can get a good photo and post it here, I may be able to ID it for you.
To remove or control them, either float or weigh down and sink a piece of lettuce in the tank. The snails will flock to it, then just dispose of it appropriately. That way is much better then any chemical products out there, because a lot of those products will also kill your fish. Also, due to your tank size, do not add a fish to control the snails. That's a common "recommendation" from a lot of folks. Loaches and puffers are probably the best known fish to eat snails, but since loaches can grow large and prefer to be in groups, puffers are usually not good choices for community type of tanks due to aggression, and neither species will thrive in a 10 gallon tank.
If you have any live plants, that's usually how they get introduced into a tank. It's also possible like you said, from the net/fish. Not sure if this is what you did, but you never want to add the pet store water into your tank. Scoop the fish out of the plastic bag either with a net or your hand. That way you avoid introducing snails, algae, bacteria, or parasites into your tank that the store may have.
