Death of a Snailsman

[MJAnderson]

Not sure what to do about my current snail carnage. In the last 2 weeks I've lost about 1/4 of my snails. They aren't getting eaten, as I can see them flipped over and there is snail in the shell (at least until the following morning). I've checked my nitrates, salinity and my temp has been a pretty constant 79 degrees (+/- 0.5). I haven't added any rocks that could have copper. Not sure what else to check for. Any thoughts? Is there a silent snail killer?

 

[stevestank]

Do you have a crab that might have tried to pull the snails out to take it's shell? I'm puzzled. Hows the ammonia level? Sounds like a good amount of carnage that would result in an amonia spike and fouling your water.

 

[VoidRaven]

Sounds silly, but Astreas can "drown" (or that's how it was described to me) if they are upside-down too long. We have a "snail stick" for just those occasions. As soon as we see one flipped over we flip them back.

Astrea attrition rates in my tanks was always a little high...mostly due to flipping over (once I stopped getting hermit crabs). I'm due for a fresh batch of snails in my 100g. But what I try to cultivate are those little tiny snails that multiply into the 100's and only come out at night. They do a much better job keeping things clean...once you get a large enough population of them.

 

[cmador]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9425840#post9425840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by VoidRaven
Sounds silly, but Astreas can "drown" (or that's how it was described to me) if they are upside-down too long. We have a "snail stick" for just those occasions. As soon as we see one flipped over we flip them back.

Astrea attrition rates in my tanks was always a little high...mostly due to flipping over (once I stopped getting hermit crabs). I'm due for a fresh batch of snails in my 100g. But what I try to cultivate are those little tiny snails that multiply into the 100's and only come out at night. They do a much better job keeping things clean...once you get a large enough population of them.

I think the little snails you're talking about are Collonista snails. If you need some, I know someone - just PM me. Sorry to hijack MJ - love the title of this thread. :lolspin:

 

[VoidRaven]

Oh no, I have PLENTY of those little snails. I just love 'em because they multiply so quickly and do a heck of a job keeping the rocks clean. Don't do much for the glass but the rocks are nice and clean.

 

[MJAnderson]

Would either of you be willing to bring a few particularly randy of those to the fragswap?

 

[cmador]

YGPM