cerith snail dying?

[Marco333]

About a week ago I found one of my cerith snails on his back with his body completely hanging out of his shell. I thought it was dead so I reached in to pick it up. However, when I got close it quickly retracted back into its shell. A few hours later it was cruising around the tank. Ever since then, it spends half the day lying in the sand on its back looking dead, and the other half cruising around. Is this normal behavior? Is it dying? All the other inhabitants are acting normal. Thanks for any help

 

[scottsdale454ss]

I had one that kept falling over like that, it eventually got eaten by some bristleworms. I dont really know if it were already dead or dying or what. I guess theres not much you can do anyway other then continue helping it up.

the couple ive had fell over alot when they were new, now they never do.

 

[Agu]

Ceriths are native in Florida and I've collected a few (with a valid saltwater license). They're a cooler water species and they don't seem to survive long in a higher temp reef tank. I no longer collect them because they rarely live more than a few months.