Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi gang: I found a snail in the water portion of the Tinc. tank. It has a point at the end of the shell and is about less than 1CM long. Is the snail something harmful to my tinc and plants, should I get it out and what is the best way to do that? thanks-maggie

About 2 years ago I had a breeding trio of Lamasi (which I stupidly sold because I got tired of taking care of tads), I picked up some Salginella to put in their tank from a local nursury and a couple days later I noticed a couple rams horn snails (these were light tan in color and not very big 1/4" or so)I thought what harm could they do so I left them alone. Within 30 days there were so many snails in the tank I could not count them and even though I routinely went in and smashed/removed as many as I could Iwould barely dent there growth in numbers. I eventually had to break down the tank and give it a good cleaning. I don't believe these snail ever ate any clutches or did much harm (although some breeders will say certain snails will eat clutches)they were quite a nuisance and at times numerous enough to probably bother the frogs. I would highly recommend removing any snails from terrariums, by hand preferably.

Yiaks! Sounds like a nightmare! So, they travel in on plants from nurseries? I gotta get it out! Do they carry any desease I must watch my Tinc. for? Thanks-Maggie

The snail you appear to be describing sounds like a pond sail. Not a problem per say. The rams horn and apple snail can breed like crazy and eat plants like crazy as well.
I believe (but not sure) snails may and I only say may, be the one animal that could possibly carry disease which may affect your frog.
I have and keep snails, and I actually like having the small pond snail in my tanks with fish (fish eat them) to clean up.
I also still have some apple snails (large now) in a couple of my fish tanks. These tanks only have plastic plants now as the snails ate the live plants faster then they could grow (on top of me giving them ample veggies)
I like the apple and rams horns but not in the viv. Others may feel differently.

I had some experience with snails, yes they do tend to overbreed themselves.

You may have some problems with the rams eating the plants in an aquatic area. I fixed that problem by putting a lot more plants, and the plants that grew extremely fast. Its been working, but every now and then, I have to take the snails out as they tend to reproduce.

I agree it is the common snail, I used it, I like in in my fish tanks, where they are controlled and easily found, but in a vivarium it may become difficult as there will be literally 100's very shortly. So, if you don't mind having 100's of little snails around, I would leave them. If you don't want that many snails, try locating all of them and removing them as quick as possible.
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