found this snail??? - Shrimp & other Invertebrates

michelleml · 11-21-2009, 11:44 AM

Can someone tell me what this is? Will it damage/eat my plants? I found it today on one of the plants in my tank. Sorry the picture isn't great but any help will be appreciated thanks

Michelle

michelleml · 11-21-2009, 12:18 PM

i think maybe a ramshorn snail still trying to figure it out

Qwertus · 11-21-2009, 12:53 PM

It looks like ramshorn too, there are only a few types of snails that eats live plants and that one doesn't look like any of the ones I encountered.

Six · 11-23-2009, 05:46 PM

LOL, that pic makes my head hurt! It's hard to tell but yeah, I think I too see a ranshorn shape. Nothing to be worried about. Don't set any free, they are invasive in some states, FYI.

Newt · 11-23-2009, 06:11 PM

Its a Flat Ramshorn snail. I recently got some as hitchhikers on a plant I put in my shrimp tank. They are very prolific and will eat plants. Remove and/or crush as soon as you see them and the egg masses too. Skunk Loaches will eat these.

Qwertus · 11-24-2009, 12:49 AM

Skunk loach will only eat flat ramshorn snail? How can you tell its a flat ramshorn from that pic?

Newt · 11-24-2009, 05:42 AM

I downloaded the picture to my computer and enlarged it. I looks just like the dudes I have been fighting in my shrimp tank.

Dwarf Chain Laoch will eat these too and look a lot nicer than a Skunk loach, IMO.

Six · 11-24-2009, 07:12 AM

never heard of a flat ramshorn snail. got a pic?

mudboots · 11-24-2009, 08:08 AM

I've got lots of ramshorns and the snail in the pic looks just like the babies. They always lie flat in my tanks until they get a little bigger and can support the shell they're dragging around. I've never had a problem with them eating healthy plant tissue, just damaged and dying leaves.

davemonkey · 11-24-2009, 09:07 AM

It could be any number of ramshorns. I have at least 3 varieties of ramshorn in my tank (at least I used to before the Apistos started waging war). I'll try to get some good pics tonight of teh tiny flat ones like Newt has and the larger ones I got from mudboots.

So far, ALL the snails I have (pond, trumpet, ram... ) only eat on the leaves that are already damaged or dying. They have not messed with the healthy leaves. (Although, the pond snails did munch on Hygrophila polysperma when I had that plant. )