How did I get snails?

Question
Hi.  I have a 10 gallon fresh water aquarium.  This morning when I turned the light on I noticed about 10 very small snails in the tank.  I haven't added anything to the tank in over a year (other than clean water).  The plants and fish have not changed.  Do you have any idea how the heck these snails turned up?  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Rich,

Sometimes when we over-feed fish, we get what are called Flatworms.  There are very small ones called Planaria and they seemingly appear out of nowhere, and at first glance, look like baby snails.

I suspect this is what you're seeing.  

Unless they have hard snail-shaped shells, they are probably planaria.

Do water changes and cut way back on feeding and they will die off. They come from severe overfeeding in a tank.  Sometimes people feed enough food to let it hit the bottom of the tank.  That's not the right way.  It does cause Planaria outbreaks when that happens.  I give mine what they thoroughly can eat in 1 minute.

I suggest you try the same.

If you do not think these are flatworms, I'd like to see photos of the snails so I can identify them.  Identifying will lead us to answers as to where these came from.

Happy fish-keeping.

Renee