Is it possible to have too many snails?

[Ready4Launch]

So, it seems like my tank is having a snail explosion. I started out with a handful. Then there was, "OH! Look tiny baby snails!" We started counting about 15. Now, there's no sense in counting. They're showing up everywhere!

Is it possible to have too many? I mean, I guess they'll reach a population limit when there's not enough food.

 

[FishLipz]

Like you said, once food runs out they will die off. Just don’t forget that anything that dies and decays will add to the pollution of the tank and contribute to negative things like algae, high nitrates, etc.

 

[James M]

You kinda answered your own question....

 

[Ready4Launch]

You kinda answered your own question....

Right ... so ... what do you do with them? Just pluck em out and let them shrivel??

 

[James M]

Right ... so ... what do you do with them? Just pluck em out and let them shrivel??

Are they Collonista snails ?
How big is your tank ?

 

[Goodair]

you can see if there are local people who might want them.

 

[csb123]

What species are they? One could add some tiny hermit crabs which will kill some snails for their shells.

 

[samnaz]

No, you can't have too many because their population controls itself, based on available food source/predators/etc. They're most likely collonista snails. However, you could have too many snails if for example, you added a ton of nassarius without supplementing them with a meat food source to keep them from death by starvation. In that case, you'll only have "too many" for a short time, eventually their population will even itself out. In your case, no, you can't have too many collonistas.