Death of a Snailsman

MJAnderson

Premium Member
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
<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:
 
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.
 
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