they just appeared out of the gravel I have had for some time thank you
2006-10-20 10:14:37 · 7 answers · asked by terry 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
They are probably snails, and can be a good or bad thing.
If you over-feed your fish tank, the snail population will bloom like crazy, to the point where there is no longer enough food so they start to die off. This fouls the water, which kills more snails and eventually your fish. Be careful!
If you don't overfeed your tank, they are just another happy little critter that you can watch in your tank, and this one you got for free!
2006-10-20 19:44:05 · answer #1 · answered by dotman10 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you use live plants? If so the snail eggs may have been imported to the tank on a plant you introduced. Before they hatch they drop off the plant. Then as you say 'appear' out of the rocks.
Other than that I'm not real certain how you got them unless you bought used gravel. But still unlikely if you waited for it to dry before putting it in your tank.
Snails will eventually over run your tank. And not many people like them so they would be hard to get rid of. I would talk to your vet or your pet shop to see about humane choices.
2006-10-20 18:40:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
probably snails. you can go to the pet store and buy a fish that likes to eat snails if you want to keep your tank free of them. but if it's not affecting your fish's health then maybe you should just leave it.
2006-10-20 17:34:49 · answer #3 · answered by cyber_music 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Snails!
2006-10-20 17:16:24 · answer #4 · answered by MC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like malaysian live bearing snails, they are very tricky to get rid of. i have them in my aquariums and there must be hundreds that hide in the gravel and come out at night.
2006-10-20 19:34:31 · answer #5 · answered by of Light 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do they look like thin white worms? If so, that's called planaria, usually come out when the fish are overfed.
2006-10-21 00:15:34 · answer #6 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats not unusual, they just appear and they help keep your tank clean. If you get too many ,just through them out.
2006-10-20 17:17:56 · answer #7 · answered by lennie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋