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Look like Ramshorns. Couldn't guess at a species or variety, but that should give you somewhere to start Googling.

-Molly
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besides the natural ways suggested above copper is deadly to snails, either copper pennies or commerical bought snail-rid copper additives. Careful copper can kill other things in your tank you might want to keep

I'll try to get a better pic, but the shape of the shell isn't like an Apple snail....looks more like the shape of a Ramshorn. And it doesn't have a trap-door either.

-Keith


http://www.ozarkgames.com

Try this site for possible identification.

http://www.aquamaniacs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4582

Looks like Planorbid ramshorns to me.

The columbian or giant ramshorn is an applesnail. It just has that flat shell shape. It also has the door to the shell like most applesnails but lays it's eggs underwater unlike most applesnails. The planorbid ramshorn is smaller and does not require a male and female to reproduce. They also have no shell door. They are a planorbid not an applesnail. I hate using any chemicals in a tank it's hard to ever rinse it out again if you want to put any inverts in there. Even a tank that has been dried out and sat can kill off shrimp and applesnails later. Plus you can't control how much copper or impurities are in pennies so you could accidentally poison all your fish as well. If you want to dose copper just buy a bottle with a measured amount.

Well, thanks for everyone's responses. I'll have to look up this particular snail with the info you guys gave me. Turns out I like these little guys in my tank; they keep everything clean, and don't seem to harm my healthy plants. I am just going to use food to coax them together, and then physically remove the larger ones, and let the babies stay and do the work. Since they are pretty voracious breeders, I'll just keep up with this method now and then.

Anyways, thanks again; I needed to get some background information on them as I am using a number of them for a Biology lab experiment...concerning growth patterns in a Natural environment(pond water), and patterns in a Tap water environment(feeding with Algae tabs).

Thanks again.

-Keith

http://www.ozarkgames.com

Thanks to Puddlecat, the site you gave me was just what I needed! These are definately Brown Ramshorns. Thanks again.

-Keith

http://www.ozarkgames.com

I need to positively I.D. some snails growing/reproducing in my tank. They lay egg masses that are clear with visible eggs(the mass is comprised of a tough clear gelatin). They have the shape of a Ramshorn(doesn't look Columbian)snail. They are light to dark brown in color.

So far they have been a great help to my planted tank. They eat both Hair Algae, and Brown Algae(diatoms). They are also fond of any shrimp pellets I throw in there. They have been reproducing QUITE A BIT. I imagine I now have around 70-100 altogether(varying sizes). I have moved some into my non-planted(fake plants)tanks.

I will be using a few for a Biology experiment in growth patterns(using pond water for one group, and tap water with algae disks for the other group), so I need some background information on them first.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

-Keith


http://www.ozarkgames.com

is it possible to get a good pic of their eggs and/or the snails themselves?? it sounds like pond snails, but it could be lots of things

---

"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

I'll try, but my digital camera is pretty grainy.

-Keith

http://www.ozarkgames.com

OK, here's a Picture of one with some young.

-Keith

-Sorry about the quality.

GandB attached this image:


http://www.ozarkgames.com

can't tell from the pic, but it definitely looks a scene from the movie ALIEN

Well I can't really see the shape very well from your pic but if it's a flat shell like a ramshorn and it doesn't have a door on the opening to it's shell then they are planorbids. Generally considered a pest snail although some do like their shape and keep them around. They are handled like any pest snail. Limiting their food supply will control population, snail eating fish, snail traps, or strip the tank for about the only safe way to completely eliminate them.