![]() A spray bottle with a fine mist setting applied twice a day is sufficient.Īlternatively, you could install an automatic aquarium mister. Condensation on the lid of the tank indicates adequate moisture level. If your tank’s water temperature is warm and the hood is tight-fitting, you may not have to do much at all.Ĭheck the eggs to see if they are staying moist. They cannot be moved into the water, or the young will drown. Eggs laid above the water line must remain there. Once the eggs dry out, they are no longer viable. For species that lay their eggs above the water line, moisture is critical. Scrape the eggs from the surface and dispose of them. Decaying eggs can elevate your water’s ammonia levels, so remove them promptly. If you still have unhatched eggs but see baby snails, the remaining eggs are likely infertile. The time for snail eggs to hatch varies depending on the species and can take anywhere from 10 days to four weeks. What if only some of the eggs have hatched? Should I remove the others? In addition, your local area may have laws prohibiting the introduction of snails and eggs to aquatic environments. Some snail species are highly invasive and can quickly upset the balance of a natural ecosystem. You should never release aquarium pets into wild habitats. Can’t I just take the eggs to a nearby lake or river? In this case, humanely euthanize the eggs by freezing them before discarding. Be aware that this method can damage some of the eggs on the bottom. Gently wiggle the egg case to loosen it as you slide the razor beneath. If that does not work, slide a thin, flat object, such as a razor blade or credit card, underneath the eggs. If you try to separate the eggs earlier, you can damage them. Wait 24 to 48 hours after the eggs were laid to allow the casing to firm up slightly. Moving snail eggs without damaging them can be tricky, but sometimes it must be done.įirst, try to gently remove the eggs with your fingers. If the eggs are attached to the tank’s glass surface, simply scoop or scrape them off. This is simple if the eggs are attached to a movable decoration, such as a piece of driftwood. If you need to remove snail eggs from your aquarium, first remove the object to which they are attached, if possible. Many fish species find snail eggs a tasty treat and might eat the eggs or the newly hatched snails. If your nerite snail has laid eggs in a freshwater aquarium, they will need to be relocated to a brackish tank if they are to survive.Ī final reason you may need to move your eggs is to keep them from being eaten by other fish in the aquarium. Their eggs must have brackish water to hatch. If a large population of snails dies off, the ammonia from the decay can impact your other tank inhabitants.Īnother reason to remove the eggs is if the eggs cannot hatch in that environment. Water quality may suffer from too many snails producing waste as they eat. For example, you may not want those eggs to hatch and cause overpopulation of snails, which can significantly upset the balance of your tank. There are times, however, when you want to remove the snail eggs from your aquarium. ![]() In general, if you want the snail eggs to hatch, you should leave them where they are. The apple snail lives for one to three years, so it may simply be your snail’s time. Pomacea maculata, commonly known as apple snail laying eggsįinally, some species do not have a long lifespan. For these snails, you have less worry that they will overrun your aquarium.īut how do you identify snail eggs, and what do you do if you see them? Still, those species are slow breeders, laying from one to five eggs at a time. There are other freshwater snails, however, that are difficult to breed at home and require specific water conditions for the eggs to hatch. The result can be an overcrowded tank, which can impact your aquarium’s water quality as well as the overall aesthetics. Such effective and rapid breeders can quickly take over an aquarium. ![]() Many snail species breed readily in an aquarium setting – some breed so quickly and prolifically that they are even considered unwanted or pest species. Or perhaps you introduced a new live plant into your aquarium and are just now noticing something attached to the underside of the leaves.Ĭould these be snail eggs? There is a good chance the answer is: yes. You have added aquarium snails to control algae and help keep the tank clean, but now you are noticing small, jelly-like deposits on the glass. ![]()
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