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Snail Infestation from eBay Plants in Florida Pond

SW Florida, 3-month pond. Added 6 ramshorns, 12 feeder guppies. Then eBay plants — now thousands of oval, pointy-tail snails (not ramshorns). Asks: problem? Fish to eat them? Goldfish coming.

Snail ID: Common Pond Snails

Hitchhiked on plants as eggs. Always appear eventually. Eat some plants, algae, detritus.

Control

Goldfish: Eat some, not enough for control.
Orfe: Better but need 600+ gal.
Assassin snails: Eat other snails, tropical.
Manual baiting: Lettuce/zucchini overnight.
Acceptance: Populations cycle naturally. 7-year ponds = balanced.

Balance

Heavy planting helps. Don't overreact — nature balances snails, fish, tadpoles seasonally.

Resource: Snail Species, Control.

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