I've found a snail in my tub

[sarracenialover]

I was busy halving my hyacinths and utrics since they were overtaking the tub when I uncovered a whole bevy of snails! I want to know if accidentally introduced snail will eat plants. The snails have round, spotted, transparent shells. They "appear" to be dining on algae.

Well, here are the pics:

Here is my tub where a utric is growing (note I removed a lot of hyacinths and the utric that is growing in there until there were only 3 strands to make room for a new utric):


Where did these guys come from?

[unstuckintime]

Snails can come seemingly from no where. If you have a body of water, and you add a plant, you'll get snails. Where did you get the water hyacinth from? One could have hitch-hiked in the roots, and then POOF, you have tons. Or perhaps a mass of eggs in there...

[Aidan]

Jun 13, 2008 1:37:12 GMT @sarracenialover said:

I want to know if accidentally introduced snail will eat plants.

It depends upon the particular type of snail. Some simply graze algae, whereas others will eat more or less any plant.

[sarracenialover]

I got it from a nursery in California since it is illegal to ship from other states.

I've been trying to research what kind of snail that is, but I'll let it be.

[stevestewart]

If you look up "ramshorn" snails, you might find the type you have. Your picture isn't clear, but it looks like one.

I introduce "ramshorn snails" into my aquatic Utricularia habitats. They will eat many vascular plants (especially "water fern" Ceratopteris), but I have not seen them eat Utricularia or Aldrovanda.

Take care,
Steven Stewart