How To Deal With Freshwater Snail Eggs

Most freshwater aquarium keepers have dealt with snail eggs at some point. It can be stressful dealing with eggs popping up all over the aquarium and not knowing what to do with them.

Which snails are good? Which are bad? Should aquarists leave the eggs alone or remove them from their tank?

This article will cover the seven most common types of aquarium freshwater snails. We’ll detail their reproductive process, eggs, and whether they’re good to have in an aquarium.

Keep reading to learn how to prevent pests snails from entering the aquarium in the first place. For those already dealing with the problem, follow the below advice to get rid of them.

For those who want to breed snails, don’t worry — it’s easier than most think.

Where Did These Snails Come From?

Aquarists buy snails for their tanks all the time. They’re great for cleaning up algae and detritus around the tank.

Yet, this isn’t always the case.

It is frustrating for aquarists to have their tank overrun with snails. It’s especially irritating if they’ve never even bought snails.

Where do they come from?

Pest snails, like ramshorn, bladder, and trumpet snails, are notorious hitchhikers. They love to eat vegetation and come along on live aquatic plants that aquarists buy.

Most pet store employees are good about ensuring there are no adult snails on the plants they sell their customers. Still, the plants often harbor snail eggs, which are harder to see.

Preventing Pest Snails

Pest snails are challenging to get rid of. They reproduce rapidly as long as there are enough resources in the tank. The best thing is to avoid these pest snails in the first place.

Quarantine New Plants

It’s crucial for aquarists to always quarantine new plants as they would new fish.

First, rinse the new plants in freshwater to dislodge most hitchhikers. Then, inspect the stems, leaves, and roots for any hitchhikers and remove them.

Place the plants in a cycled freshwater quarantine tank for at least two weeks. The quarantine tank doesn’t need to be large or decorated — many aquarists leave theirs bare.

Take the two weeks to observe the plants for any hitchhikers. Aquarists should remove the eggs and adult snails as they see them.

Chemical Solutions

Many aquarists soak their plants in solutions before adding them to the main tank. Doing so kills off any snail eggs clinging to the plants. Soaking the plants can get rid of parasites that may be harmful to the fish, too.

Using solutions can be tricky; doing it wrong can damage or kill the plants. Using solutions is best left to more experienced aquarists.

Here are a few solutions aquarists can make:

• Bleach
• Potassium permanganate
• Hydrogen peroxide

Working with these solutions is difficult and can be dangerous. We won’t cover these steps here.

* ALWAYS wear gloves and safety glasses when working with these chemicals. Keep a freshwater rinse solution ready, made with a dechlorinator. *

How Do Freshwater Snails Breed?

Some freshwater snails are prolific breeders that reproduce asexually. Others reproduce sexually — both a male and female snail must inhabit the tank. It all depends on the species.

Below are the most common freshwater snail species found in aquariums.

Ramshorn Snails

Ramshorn snails are some of the worst pest snails that live in aquariums.

Ramshorn snails are prolific breeders that can overrun a tank in a few weeks.

They can reproduce sexually and asexually, which is why they can be detrimental to a tank. It’s difficult to get rid of these snails. A single missed snail can repopulate a whole tank.

Ramshorn snails are also hermaphrodites, containing both male and female reproductive organs. They have an “ovotestis” organ that produces eggs and sperm.

In asexual reproduction, a single ramshorn snail can create clones of itself. It does this through internal fertilization, using its sperm to fertilize its eggs.

During mating, a snail either fertilizes another snail or becomes fertilized itself.

Ramshorn snails lay gelatinous egg sacks that contain 12 to 24 eggs. The egg sacks are transparent with clusters of opaque eggs.

Incubation takes anywhere between one to four weeks. The warmer the tank is, the faster the embryos grow.

Bladder Snails

Bladder snails are another “pest” snail that can reproduce sexually and asexually. They are hermaphrodites like ramshorn snails and reproduce prolifically.

They lay gelatinous egg capsules that look very much like ramshorn snail egg sacks. The egg capsules are transparent, with 10 to 40 opaque eggs.

Bladder snails usually lay their egg sacks on the underside of plant leaves. The incubation period only lasts about a week. These snails can rapidly overrun an aquarium.

Malaysian Trumpet Snails

Many aquarists consider Malaysian trumpet snails pests. Yet, they don’t reproduce as quickly as ramshorns.

Like ramshorns and bladder snails, trumpet snails reproduce sexually and asexually.

They reproduce asexually through a method called “parthenogenesis.” Parthenogenesis is when female snails produce female clones of themselves without sperm.

Although Malaysian trumpet snails can reproduce sexually, they rarely do so.

Unlike most freshwater snails, trumpet snails don’t lay eggs. Instead, they give birth to live young.

The embryos develop inside brood pouches inside their mother. Mothers typically only produce one baby snail at a time. Still, a single female trumpet snail can have more than 200 young over her lifetime.

Apple & Mystery Snails

Mystery snails are a smaller version of an apple snail. They look nearly identical when small. Aquarists often confuse them.

Yet, apple snails are illegal to sell in some areas across the United States. Some pet stores may not even sell them.

Sexual Reproduction

Apple and mystery snails are hermaphroditic, yet they must reproduce sexually. They cannot reproduce asexually like the snails above.

The male approaches the female from behind and climbs on top of her. He inserts his penial sheath into her genital aperture. Mating lasts one to five hours. During mating, the female continues wandering around and eating.

Apple snails are fast breeders because they produce up to 200 eggs at a time. Plus, females can store sperm for months, laying eggs long after copulation.

The Eggs

The eggs stick together in a large bundle that the parent lays above the water line. The egg sacks are creamy pink and gelatinous when first laid. After about 24 hours, the eggs turn white and form a hard, calcareous covering.

Though the eggs sit above the water line, they must be in a humid area, or they won’t develop.

Aquarists usually find egg bundles along the rim of the glass or under the lip of the tank. Sometimes they lay them on the underside of the hood.

These eggs take three to four weeks to develop. Aquarists have plenty of time to get rid of them if they wish.

Dark spots form at the center as the eggs develop, showing that an embryo is growing inside. Once fully developed, the juvenile snails emerge from their eggs. Then, they drop into the water below.

Nerite Snails

Nerite snails lay lots of eggs that they scatter all over the aquarium. The egg capsules are yellowish at first, turning darker as they develop.

Yet, the eggs only develop and hatch in brackish water or saltwater. Nerite snail eggs kept in freshwater conditions will never hatch.

Nerite snails reproduce sexually like apple and mystery snails. The male crawls over the female and inserts his sexual organ into hers.

Rabbit Snails

Like trumpet snails, rabbit snails give birth to live young. They only have one baby at a time, about once every four to six weeks. They are slow reproducers and do not usually cause problems in aquariums.

Assassin Snails

Most aquarists buy assassin snails to take care of their pest snail populations. They are a predatory species that eat smaller snails.

Unlike pest snails, assassin snails are unlikely to overrun a tank. They usually only lay one egg each time they mate, and each egg takes one to two months to develop. Warmer temperatures help the embryos to grow faster.

The egg is yellow and  a clear, rectangular capsule protects it. The mother attaches the egg to a hard surface. Hobbyists often see eggs on glass, driftwood, and rocks.

How To Get Rid Of Freshwater Snails (By Species)

One of the most effective ways of getting rid of unwanted snails is to remove them manually.

Mystery, Apple, Bladder, & Ramshorn Snails

These snails lay their eggs in large masses around the tank. Aquarists can easily scrape them off. Use a razor blade to remove tough masses — use caution, the blades are sharp! 

Removing apple and mystery snail eggs is easiest. The sacs are large and cream-colored. Ramshorn snail egg sacks are transparent when first laid; it’s much easier to miss them.

Hobbyists can also pick adult snails from their tanks.

It’s easy to prevent apple and mystery snails from laying eggs in the first place. They will not lay their eggs below the water line. Apple snail breeders keep the water line about three inches below the rim of the tank. That open space gives the snails room to lay their eggs. Aquarists that don’t want eggs can simply raise the water line.

Malaysian Trumpet Snails

Malaysian trumpet snails produce live young and do not have eggs. The easiest way to get rid of them is to pick them out of the tank when they are big enough to see.

Rabbit Snails

These snails produce live young. Removing them once they become adults is easiest. Still, they reproduce slowly and are not considered pests. Most aquarists buy these snails and don’t wish to get rid of them.

Assassin Snails

Most aquarists do not wish to remove assassin snails as they are beneficial.

Those wishing to get rid of them must wait until they hatch. Since assassin snails only lay one egg at a time, the egg is almost impossible to find.

Juvenile assassin snails are hard to find because they like to burrow. The adults also burrow, though less often.

The best way to get rid of assassin snails is to lay bait. Place a small piece of meat in the aquarium and wait for them to come and eat it. Then, aquarists can easily remove them.

Nerite Snails

Nerite snails only breed in brackish water or saltwater. Hobbyists keeping freshwater aquariums don’t need to worry about eggs.

It’s almost impossible to breed nerite snails. Even biologists have difficulty breeding them.

There are hundreds of species living in different conditions. Each kind has specific requirements to reproduce.

Chances are, aquarists that have nerite snails in their tank bought them. Aquarists rarely want to get rid of these snails.

Still, getting rid of them is as easy as plucking them out of the tank.

How To Get Rid Of Freshwater Snails (General)

There are many useful ways to get rid of snails rather than picking them out by hand. Snail traps, reducing their food, and introducing predators all work well.

Snail Traps

Snail traps work well for aquarists who don’t want to pick out each snail. Snail traps have a compartment where aquarists place a small piece of bait. Leave the trap overnight, and the snails crawl inside to get the bait. They won’t be able to get back out, at which point aquarists can dispose of them.

Use Assassin Snails

Aquarists buy assassin snails primarily to reduce their pest snail population.

Assassin snails can be effective for minor problems. They aren’t a great solution for infestations.

Assassin snails aren’t much larger than “pest” snails and won’t be able to get rid of them all.

Loaches

Loaches with pointy faces love feeding on snails. There are many peaceful species that work well in community tanks. Aquarists can add a small (or large) school of loaches to their tank to reduce their pest snail population.

Zebra, clown, yoyo, and dwarf chain loaches are the best snail eaters.

Unfortunately, clown and dwarf chain loaches have reputations for being aggressive.

Yoyo and zebra loaches are the best options for most tanks.

Limiting Their Populations

Many aquarists enjoy “pest” snails. Still, they don’t want them to overrun their tank.

Aquarists can reduce their snail populations by limiting their food. The more food is available, the faster snails reproduce. Reducing the available resources in the tank means fewer snails.

Breeding Freshwater Snails

Some hobbyists do want more snails and encourage them to procreate.

Some aquarists enjoy snails and simply like raising them. Others use them to feed their carnivorous pets, like cichlids and pea puffers. Others breed apple, mystery, assassin, or nerite snails for profit.

Whatever the reason, freshwater snails are not hard to breed.

Setting Up The Conditions

Breeders should create the right environment for their desired species. That includes having the proper water temperature, pH, and salinity. Still, most snails will breed even when the conditions aren’t perfect.

From there, the snails usually do their thing on their own.

The Eggs

The eggs are self-sufficient and rarely need any care. Some eggs live inside a bitter, gelatinous mass that tastes terrible to predators. Others live inside a hard mass, which is difficult for predators to break into.

The Juveniles

It’s a different story once the juvenile snails hatch. Many fish and some invertebrates will go after young snails since they’re small and easy to eat.

Aquarists wishing to breed freshwater snails should keep them in a species-only tank. Without any predators, juvenile snails are free to grow without hindrance. Once they are large enough, aquarists can move them into a tank with fish if they like.

Raising Snails For Food

Those breeding pest snails for fish food should always keep them in a species-only tank.

Some fish, particularly pea puffers and cichlids, are aggressive hunters. They can decimate the snail population within a tank in no time. Aquarists should raise their snails in a separate tank and put a few in the main tank when they’re ready to feed.

FAQs

How Do You Dispose Of Unwanted Snails?

Aquarists can give away unwanted snails or humanely kill them.

Never pour the snails down the drain with the aquarium water. It’s possible their shells may clog the drainage system. Many of the snails will die a painful and slow death being put down the drain.

The worst case is that some snails will survive and make it into public waterways. They can become an invasive species and cause lots of problems.

The best solution is to give away or sell the snails. Someone is always looking for them, whether they’re “pest” snails or common pet snails. Pet stores will usually take them and may even pay aquarists for them. Aquarists with carnivorous fish will gladly accept them to feed their fish.

Another option is to make a small container of salt water and place the snails inside. The salt kills the snails quickly and is considered humane.

Which Freshwater Snails Are Best To Avoid An Infestation?

Avoid ramshorn, bladder, and Malaysian trumpet snails to prevent an infestation. These snails are fast breeders that can quickly overrun a tank.

Apple snails can potentially be a problem, too, since they produce lots of eggs. Still, it’s much easier to prevent their breeding and get rid of their eggs.

Can You Use Chemicals To Kill Snails?

There are some chemical products on the market that aquarists can use to kill snails. Copper sulfate is the most common solution available. These chemicals are quick and effective but can be dangerous.

Avoiding these is best as they are harsh and may harm the fish and kill plants. They will kill all invertebrates in the tank, not just snails. Copper sulfate also has the potential to kill sensitive fish, like loaches.