my flying snails

my lfs gave me numerous tiny snails to clean up some algae i was getting.
i'm not sure of the species but they're no more than half a centimeter long
at the largest.


once in a while i'll look into the tank and see a snail literally floating
in mid-water without moving... current and passing fish be damned. it's
tethered by a long string of mucous that is invisible due to it's index of
refraction and totally clear nature. the poor snail writhes around looking
for something to grab onto until a merciful fish passes too close and slices
the mucous tether, letting the snail balloon up to the surface and find a
tank-wall to climb on.



anyone else seen this? first time i saw it i thought the little ******* was
a regular david copperfield, dangling without any visible lines or riccia in
sight.