Weird Snail Scenario

**fishn00b** · 02-05-2013, 09:42 PM

My snail problem was really bad a few days ago, like somewhere around 40 snails in the tank plus countless tiny ones that I couldn't see yet. They lived through my fishless cycle which was astonishing, and continued to grow. Many were roughly the size of a pea. Then Saturday I added fish. Today, I can't see any snails AT ALL. It's the weirdest thing. None of my fish would eat an adult snail I don't think, and there are no shells laying around that I can see. Is it possible they all went into hiding when they sensed fish were in the tank? I have no idea.

And of course, I ordered 3 assassin snails thinking I would have 100 by the time I got them. They arrive tomorrow, into what appears to be a completely snail free tank.

**Aeonflame** · 02-05-2013, 11:55 PM

Are these malaysian trumpet snails? It is possible they have burrowed into and are present in the substrate.

**fishn00b** · 02-06-2013, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by Aeonflame

Are these malaysian trumpet snails? It is possible they have burrowed into and are present in the substrate.

No they are your run of the mill pond snails. Some of them had circular shaped shells though which were different, they came later.

**homemadepopcorn** · 02-06-2013, 12:22 AM

Is there food in the tank? If some food drifted into a part of the tank you can't see, they might've gone to that. Its very unlikely, but it is an idea.

How big is the tank?

**fishn00b** · 02-06-2013, 12:32 AM

It's 36g, It is possible the food fell under driftwood and such but still, they were all over the walls a few days ago and now they are gone. The tank has no lid most of the time but I haven't seen any snails on the floor either. So confusing.

**richberstler** · 02-06-2013, 12:43 AM

I still can't figure out why people dislike vacuum cleaners in their tanks. I miss my snails, somehow mine came on troubled times in a couple tanks. My guess is the water spiked something horrible or they are there somewhere. Try a water test unless you are well planted (going back to previous posts of hiding food).

**Limming** · 02-06-2013, 12:53 AM

From what I can tell sometime they just overwhelm the tank and most people don't like snails.

**homemadepopcorn** · 02-06-2013, 12:57 AM

Pond snails can live through most anything; I've seen then go through 10+ ppm ammonia with no problems.

What kind of fish do you have in the tank?

**richberstler** · 02-06-2013, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by Limming

From what I can tell sometime they just overwhelm the tank and most people don't like snails.

I've only ever noticed this if the tank is overfed. I had what looked like 100 in each tank before I realized it was from overfeeding. Somewhere in correcting a healthy balance I lost them all. Now my Assassin snails wander aimlessly.

lol no joke as I say that I look over and see MTS crawling up my tank, ok maybe they are all hiding

**fishn00b** · 02-06-2013, 01:30 AM

I have a bunch of tetras neons, rummynose, skirt, 3 panda garras and 1 GBR. The tank is heavily planted to they could be hiding in the plants but it seems weird I would not see them. Even weirder is if they did finally die off in the last day or 2 of the cycle and I didn't notice, where did all the shells go? The mystery continues.