What are these cocoons in my fish tank?

Question

We have tetras, a bristlenose and two snails of a pinkish colour. There are three cocoon-shaped objects near the top of the tank, all half-in, half-out of the water - all are the same colour as the snails' bodies, so we assume the snails are responsible. What are these objects?

If these are baby snails in the making, how long between a cocoon showing up and the Big Day?

Do I simply take the cocoons away after a while? No evidence of babies, but perhaps the fish are eating them prior to us seeing anything! One cocoon has been there for a few weeks now.

Answer 1

Are your snails "apple" something? If they are then I know exactly what the cocoons are! I had something similar a few years back, and a few days after seeing the cocoons they hatched and litterally thousands of baby snails emerged! They all got eaten by the fish, but the snails kept on breeding!!! Great free food for the fish! Most fish WILL eat the snails, so if you really want to breed them then you will have to move them, however they are sooooo common i doubt that you will be able to sell them. as everyone else has said snail breed like wildfire.

Good luck with your snails. We never ended up with any adults - they were all eaten, but we did have large fish in the tank.

Answer 2

If the "cocoons" are Apple Snail eggs,you have and opportunity to raise,and grow out an aquarium pet that you might actually be able to sell. I'd let the egg cases hatch and then trap the little snails out by baiting them with lettuce leaves or some other kind of plant material and move them to their own tank. Who knows, you might find a small pet store that would take them in on trade for supplies,or if there is an aquarium club near you they might be market-able there. In any case it will be fun and fairly easy to try. Have fun with your tank! ------PeeTee

Answer 3

snails breed rapidly. you will find them in your tank for months to come even after you remove the snails. dont worry about it. it will just be an even cleaner tank now.

Answer 4

i suggest you put your snails and these cocoons in a breeder net so no other fish eat the babies. a breeder net can be bought at any pet store even walmart i think has them.

Answer 5

yep, those be apple snail eggs!
they can be removed and thrown away if you don't want them.
unfortunately i don't think tetras will eat babies, and bristlenoses definately won't, so you can find yourself overrun and drowning underneath snails if you're not careful!

Answer 6

Get a clown loach before it's too late.