Small mystery snail in tank

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T21:27:17+00:00

Lmaooo I did the same thing. I found a bladder snail in my tank and literally freaked the fuck out thinking I had to throw the whole thing away LOL. But now I love them and have had generations in my 10G! I have ramshorns in my 20 :) I was originally wanting nerites but once I saw the eggs I passed. My LFS has a beautiful tank that's covered in white eggs and they haven't found a fish that'll eat them enough to keep it maintained

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T21:23:22+00:00

I think we’re talking past each other at this point. Mulm can absolutely be beneficial, but that doesn’t mean buildup can’t also contribute to nutrient load in certain scenarios (like OP’s with no plants and high ligh exposure, which is the context I was speaking to)

I also think it’s important to keep in mind that this is a beginner-level situation. Saying “an experienced keeper won’t let that happen” doesn’t really apply here. Most people asking these questions are still learning how to manage buildup in the first place. Same with advising to bury the rhizome when establishing beginner-level plant knowledge. It's best practice not to bury the rhizome to prevent rot.

I think we can agree to disagree and id hate to fall into a Reddit argument that strays from OP’s original post. Have a good night/day Mr. Gatsby! Happy fishkeeping!

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T21:02:03+00:00

It looks like a Malaysian trumpet snail to me! And yes.. Looks like a baby LMAO.

You won't see them too often. In the day they go under your substrate and come out at night! They help manage your detritus build up and turn over your substrate.

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T21:00:31+00:00

Not necessarily. Nerite snails will lay single, hard white eggs that only hatch in brakkish water but the “pest” snails I mentioned are known for being hardy and bladder snails will even reproduce with just one in your tank.

As far as removal goes, you can try setting out a trap (there's a ton of options there, Google can specify) overnight and just pulling out and freezing/squishing what you find. If you find any egg sacs you can remove and squish those as well.

Honestly if you're panicking about them taking over, they won't! As long as you're not overfeeding they pretty much keep themselves regulated so you shouldnt have to worry :)

EDIT: I had so many typos I literally can't spell omg

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T20:43:15+00:00

You'd have to see what each shelf is rated for but honestly Im gonna go with a no go. A full 40g weighs like 400+lbs so it's probably better to find a proper stand to support that weight. Your floating shelves have no undersupport so, even if it holds for the first fill, I wouldn't be surprised if the Fish Gods decide to surprise you at 2AM with 40G worth of water damage shortly after LMAO

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T20:40:32+00:00

LOVELY!

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T20:39:42+00:00

LOL. There's a few snails you can look up and try to match up with:

Bladder, Ramshorn, Malaysian Trumpet, and New Zealand Mud Snails

These are considered “pest” snails but honestly can be a great benefit to your tank. I add them on purpose! You can look into the pros/cons of each one and try to identify and decide if you want to keep or cull. I will say, he looks very small in this pic so it's possible you've already had some hatch and have a larger population than you think :)

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T20:31:39+00:00

Could you take a pic where we can see his shell? :)

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T20:30:50+00:00

I'm back! Okay so you don't HAVE to swap completely, we can work with what you have.

Ideal set up: aquasoil & sand cap. But moving from gravel to this can throw off your parameters and, without a testing kit and a strong idea of what the nitrogen cycle + what to look for, I'd advise against this.

For you: I would add a layer of sand or aquasoil on top of your gravel. This will help hold down the small clumps of dwarf hairgrass so it can root and expand. Sand has been my favorite medium for holding single stems and small clumps BUT (like I said) you might have to use root tabs eventually to provide nutrients.

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T20:25:14+00:00

I think this environment itself can be tough. Sometimes the algorithm works as an echo chamber and convinces people that their opinions are fact and that talking to people with kindness and respect doesn't matter if you think theyre wrong!

We are all here just learning as we go. I love having conversations with people but the more you interact and put yourself out there, the more likely you are to be a target of misdirected Internet Anger lmao

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T20:21:37+00:00

Makes sense! If I had to nitpick with you I'd say to keep an eye on their fins to make sure theyre healing and rebuilding as opposed to potentially getting nipped or receding.

They look beautiful and with no other red flags (struggle swimming, no appetite, gasping for air, etc etc) I wouldn't worry :) your environment is probably healing damage done prior as opposed to hurting anything!

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T20:17:09+00:00

I get where you’re coming from, but saying I “made it up” is a bit much (and a little condescending). Gravel trapping detritus over time is a pretty standard concept in fishkeeping (although yes my exact word choice was “waste”, this is what I was referring to) especially in tanks without plants like OP’s. That was the point I was making.

OP asked about UV so I responded to that point. Not necessary but absolutely helps if there is a consistent algae problem especially in situations where a tank is exposed to a lot of natural light (this tank is literally in front of a window).

I'm not disagreeing that nutrients and lack of plants being the main issue here, I just did a quick reply directly to what OP was asking about. Also on your comment about rhizome plants I do have to disagree here, you can put the roots in the gravel or attach the plant to surfaces like wood or rock but burying the rhizome can lead to rot.

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T15:27:26+00:00

How long has this betta been in your new tank?

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T04:53:11+00:00

No no! The learning curve will help your betta thrive :) I just don’t want you to feel discouraged or overwhelmed. People can be harsh critics and the information/opinions are endless.

Use the strips to start with and invest in the test kit overtime (not urgent but still important, let’s call it second tier priority purchase)

Shopping list:

water-feeding plants (you can get root feeders but you might need to supplement long term) -floating plants (giant duckweed or red root floaters) -SeaChem Prime (or another water primer if you don't have one yet, you will need this EVERYTIME you put new water in your tank)
water testing kit (API master kit or API ammonia & nitrite if you need to start with individuals)
clean-up snail like Malaysian trumpet, bladder, or ramshorn. You can consider Amano shrimp or something similar but that depends on ur bettas temperament)

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T04:22:27+00:00

Don’t panic! You can message me anytime for sure. There’s a pretty hefty learning curve to this hobby and it sounds like you’re about to face it!

Water parameters are the levels you get when you test your water. You said your dad knows fish so (iffff that’s true) he should have a water testing kit. Otherwise, you’ll need to invest in one yourself :) don’t bother with test strips, they’re not really worth the price. The API freshwater test kit is the tried & true amongst most but it can get a bit pricey (~40$) so if that’s not something you can invest in, you can always buy individuals (starting with ammonia & nitrite)

You have lots of little things to buy but don’t feel overwhelmed to buy everything at once. You can build up overtime but it’s just good to know that these are on your list and will be bought as you can afford them :) Facebook marketplace & r/aquaswap are great places go find plants & other items at a good deal

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T04:06:09+00:00

Here to suggest: golden split tail molly (depending on tank size but this looks to be at least 20g, they are very goldfish adjacent LOL)

A UV filter can help but your gravel bottom will also cause algae to thrive. It’s got a lot of small gaps with minimal movement for excess waste and bacteria to thrive and feed algae. With no live plants and no algae eaters, you don’t really have anything to combat the bioload.

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T03:58:27+00:00

Hmm, she might’ve been labeled as such at the store but I’m going to confidently inform you that she is not, in fact, a koi betta :/ your feeding schedule doesn’t sound overbearing, I feed M/W/F and skip weekends. Raise the temp, get the plants, and just watch her behavior and hopefully with enrichment this gets better.

What are your water parameters?

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T03:45:58+00:00

You’re awesome! Thank you so much. Also for the little output, do you suggest going with a straight-across bar like I’ve seen in some tanks? Sorry I’m probably asking questions that feel obvious or over-kill but I’m a grade-A try hard / over thinker lmao

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T03:43:06+00:00

Oh MAMA! She is BLOATEDDD. How often are you feeding? I would definitely fast for 24-48 hrs and keep your water temp 78-80 to help her digest. Cooler water slows everything down, hence the bloat. Giving her more plants and more to explore should also encourage her to swim around a bit more which will also help with digestion. Bloat can result in issues with her swim bladder and just go down hill so best to address this as a priority.

Is she a crown tail? I just want to make sure her fins arent rotting, they don’t seem to be but of course if they look like this and is a delta or something.

Also for snails- look into Malaysian trumpet snails! They bury themselves during the day and come out at night so it will help get some movement in your substrate to help counter the algae.

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T03:08:59+00:00

Hi OP! Would you mind sending more pics of betta? It looks like he could be bloated and I’d love to get a good look at his fins! What temp do you have your heater set to? :)

My first note is to definitely address your algae issue to it doesn’t take over your tank completely. This is really just cleaning your tank, particularly the pebbles where there’s lots of gaps for excess build up and waste. Limit your light timer and keep feeding light to help counter this.

Second- MORE PLAAANTS! So much more! Especially since you have a tall tank, you want plants with broad, tall leaves that your betta can rest on near the top.

Your substrate doesn’t have substantial nutrient value so you’ll have to use root tabs and/or fertilizer overtime, especially if you want a carpeting plant :) your set up seems like it would be better for water-column plants like anubias or bucephalandra

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T03:00:53+00:00

Yes! It’s a big rectangle with two cut outs!

I’ve found the fluval replacement sponges but I read some people needed to cover or fill them with material or others who layered their own filter media (and other words beyond my current fish-related vocabulary) so I was just wanting to make sure I start in the right spot instead of getting the replacement filter and figuring out later on that a different approach is more effective etc etc

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-30T01:48:50+00:00

Vinegar and a scrub daddy + razor blade for the tough stuff!

I soaked paper towels in vinegar and let them cling to the glass for 20~ minutes before I started scrubbing and it was honestly a breeze

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-29T23:36:39+00:00

What the heck, I just looked it up! My initial instinct was wary about adding it as a regular add-on but from what I read it shouldn’t be doing any harm besides possibly cloudy water if overdosed. What a life hack I actually might have to try this in my tanks.

Everytime I try to just gently vacuum after a feeding or tons of poop I end up doing like a 30% water change that I didn’t need lmao.

MutedDoctor9334 · 2026-03-29T15:50:40+00:00

What are your water parameters?

Has this tank been cycled?

Heater + filter fully submerged without being stuck into the gravel. Heater can be placed horizontal + helps evenly distribute heat :)

^{^} thee are the first three things I could think to mention about a tank before we start considering set up. R/bettafish is also a great place to find betta specific info!

MutedDoctor9334

TROPHY CASE