I don't want these snails.

[caliwilli]

I got a used fish tank recently and about a week after refilling it with water I found that there are alot of snails in it. At first I thought it was an infestation but after researching it would appear that they must have been someone's pets. I have discovered that the species is Achatina craveni. How would you snail experts recommend I handle this without embracing the snail owner experience. I don't want to treat them as an infestation but I don't want to keep them as pets.

Extra info: It's a common 50 gallon fish tank (not a proper home from what I've read on this website) with at least twenty snails ranging in size from about a quarter inch to an inch.

[monday]

You got a second hand fish tank, filled it with water, and then noticed the snails crawling about?

there is no way they're a land snail. They would have drowned by now.

I think they're trumpet snails....http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_Melanoides_tuberculata.php .

They're very common in fish tanks, and are sometimes seen as a pest. I have seen them on sall on Ebay, but why anyone would pay money for them i have no idea. Most petshops and fish keepers would give them away.

Trumpet snails do not lay eggs, they give birth to fully formed babies, and the breed like mad. they can be good for plants though, they burrow under the gravel allowing air to get to plant roots. They won't eat plants unless the plant is dying.

If you're planning on keeping them, cool. They won't cause harm to fish or plants but they could get out of hand.

You could buy a snail trap from the pet shop. Or add a snail killer to the water. Or if you don't mind having aquatic snails you could add another species called Anentome helena AKA assassin snail, Rambo snail, snail eating snail. They'll cruise round the tank eating snails smaller than they are, when the smaller snails are gone, they'll eat algae and dead plant matter and other waste. link...http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/stores_productsinfo.asp?store=6&prod=1548

they also breed quite quickly in good conditions, but you're more likely to rehome the assasin snails as there is a demand for them.



ADDED: if you put any live plants in the tank, that's probably where they came from. They're so tiny when babies they're hard to spot.