Cannot Keep Turbo Snails alive...

[Tripod1404]

Hello reefers,

I have a strange problem with my turbo snails. 9 out of 10 turbo snails I get die over a 1 month period. Right now I only have 2 turbos one of which is the first turbo I got and I have the other for about 3 months. These two snails are doing great but all the others die...

Symptoms are always very similar to each other. During the first week snails are okay, then they become less and less active. Eventually completely stop moving and after about 1 week from this, they die...

I drip acclimated all my snails for at least 2 hours and I dont think it is an acclimation issue since they are okay during the first week. Except turbos, I have a better track record with ceriths, nerites, astreas and trochus snails. I also occasionally lose these snails (mostly ceriths) but this is mostly due to hermits wanting new shells. Also, I have enough film and hair algae to support turbos.

My water parameters are;
ammonia : 0ppm
nitrite : 0ppm
nitrate 2ppm to 5ppm
pH: 8.3-8.4
alkalinity 10 to 12dKa
phosphate : 0.05 to 0.1 ppm
temperature : 27 Celsius, 80.6 Fahrenheit

Thanks for your help!

 

[CSalty]

If your salinity is too low than your inverts won't survive.


SSgt Saltwater

 

[Tripod1404]

Sorry I forgot to give my salinity. It is 1.027 ppt (measured with a refractometer). I also have 2 cleaner shrimp, 2 pepermint shrimp, one trumpet coral and one green goniopora, all doing fine.

 

[Cbasss]

Maybe copper in water? Inverts are very sensitive of that... Turbo snails usually live in water that are a bit colder so that may be why they are fragile... I had a similar problem with these snails... I never really figured out what caused it, i read a lot about them and a lot of peeps were saying that the temperature of the tank could be a big factor


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[Bagabaga]

It can most definitely be temperature shock. I used to have a really bad time with turbos and found that banded trochus were just as hungry but lived longer for me.

 

[C.Eymann]

Agree it could be a temperature issue. Mexican turbo snails are from a bit cooler waters than what we typically keep reefs at. However, some still have success regardless. How big is the tank? Are you sure you have enough algae for them?

 

[jayball]

Mexican turbo's usually last the same timeline for me. I will have maybe one out of 6 that will last three months.

 

[gnasher]

I've had similar issues with turbos in a tank that wasn't very well lit. I believe they starved to death. I was able to keep them alive significantly longer in an unlit tank by directly feeding them nori, so that's some pretty good evidence that it was dietary in my situation at least.

You may have algae in your tank, but it's possible that what you have isn't palatable to them.