How would I euthanize a snail?

lakwriter

lakwriter

New member
I have an astrea snail that has fallen at least once every day for the past 5 days. I have tried to catch it and right it as best I can considering going to work every day. After a few hours, this snail seems to be back to moving around and climbing the glass. This last time, I think he may be on his way out. He hasn't moved in several hours and appears to be burrowing into the sand (something I've never seen an astrea do). I'm thinking I should remove this little guy before he dies overnight in the tank and/or moves and dies where I cannot find him.

What would be the most humane and reasonable way to euthanize this snail?
 
The best way to euthanize any aquarium specimen is by putting in the freezer, IMO.

(weird, the spell check doesn't recognize "euthanize")
 
I'm thinking sautéed in butter and garlic, with a pinch of kosher or sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper (don't use the pre-ground stuff). :D
 
Thanks for the feedback. I'm gonna keep an eye on him a little longer and see what happens. I'm not ready to give up quite yet.
 
Sk8r is right IF you have the worms. I was paranoid about snails, too, from my FW background. But unless the snail is large and your worm population is small, you should be ok. May see a slight rise in your N compounds. How long has the tank been running, and did you get a detrivore kit, or otherwise have a good benthic population?
 
The best way to euthanize fish/inverts is to whack it with a blunt object. Sounds barbaric but it's a quick and painless way to do it. Think about it, if it was you, would you rather be slowly frozen to death feeling your blood crystalize or would you rather be killed instantly be it by whatever means are necessary?

PD. I agree about it not being a big deal having the snail die in the tank. They smell horrible, but won't harm the tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9371767#post9371767 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gman0526
Think about it, if it was you, would you rather be slowly frozen to death feeling your blood crystalize or would you rather be killed instantly be it by whatever means are necessary?
Click to expand...

Actually, you fall asleep/lose consciousness first.

How do you whack a snail :confused:
 
Whacking a snail won't kill it quick, it just shatters the shell and leaves the snail internally injured until it dies horribly from some kind of internal poisoning.
Besides, I've been whacked in the head a time or two (explains a lot of my posts, I know) and I would MUCH rather be froze to death than bludgeoned.
 
I find my garbage disposal woks great! whrrrrr-crunch-crunch-clikity-clak-gone. Guillotines don't work well on snails!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9372128#post9372128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pottsburg
with a big hammer!
Click to expand...


LOL

I would not want to freeze to death, bash me with a hammer, swiftly and accurately:D .
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9372331#post9372331 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JohnnyM2
I find my garbage disposal woks great! whrrrrr-crunch-crunch-clikity-clak-gone. Guillotines don't work well on snails!
Click to expand...

Dang! You've got some garbage disposal there if it can crush up an astrea snail :eek1:
 
dude just freakin' step on it or flush it, ur making a post about it? LOL! children in africa die by the hundreds everyday and ur worried about a freakin' snail??

whats the world coming to? shame on you
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9372489#post9372489 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by supernareg
dude just freakin' step on it or flush it, ur making a post about it? LOL! children in africa die by the hundreds everyday and ur worried about a freakin' snail??

whats the world coming to? shame on you
Click to expand...
Why would you shame someone for having compassion towards another organism? Granted, they're not African children, but if you can't do it all, do what you can.
 
The standard practice for fish is to drop a few alka seltzer tablets in (depending on container volume, and not in your aquarium mind you) the CO2 overload will render them unconscious in no time. This is considered by many to be the most humane way to euthanize a fish. At which point you could freeze them if you still had any doubts. I don't see why this wouldn't work for snails either.

SDguy, my spell check doesn't recognize it either!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9372791#post9372791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by earlnewt
***** Hey supernareg, you were once just sperm! Too bad no one got "rid" of you. *******
Click to expand...


Ohhhh!! Uppercut!!! :hammer:
 
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