Snail dying?

[RTKBA308]

I bought ten Mexican Turbo snails yesterday. Temp., then drip acclimated them. They are all doing fine, doing a great job cleaning hair algae, except for one. One of them keeps falling over. I'd put him on a rock and he'd lose his grip and fall off, so I put him on the sand. Now he sits there, after a few minutes falls on his side.

I'm guessing he is dying. This is not normal, is it?

 

[Andrew]

Snails do that all the time. Just leave them be.

 

[fish 511]

Dont mean to hijack your thread RTKBA, but if one of my snails is upside down in the sand, do I let him be or flip him over? Are there some snails that can not flip themselves over?? THANKS

 

[cowboyswife]

Mexican turbos have a hard time flipping themselves back over. Their foot isnt large like a nassarius. I always flip mine over for fear of them kicking the bucket

 

[RTKBA308]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9469018#post9469018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fish 511
Dont mean to hijack your thread RTKBA, but if one of my snails is upside down in the sand, do I let him be or flip him over? Are there some snails that can not flip themselves over?? THANKS

I'm under the impression that you should flip 'em up or they could die. The Astrea snails cannot right themselves.

My little Mexican is toast. He has been on his side for 30 minutes and has not moved at all, I think that equals dead .

 

[RTKBA308]

.

 

[RTKBA308]

While I'm on the subject, a couple of snails are on my overflow, headed for the top. Is it alright if they went into the overflow or should I cut them off at the pass ?

 

[IslandCrow]

Sounds like that turbo of yours was probably on his last leg when you bought him.

As for the other questions. Yes, you should flip your snails back over if they can't do it themselves. Astraeas can't flip themselves, and turbos have a really tough time. They basically drown if they remain upside down long enough, not to mention their easy prey for scavenging crabs (especially those deceptively benign looking blue leg hermits). As for snails heading for the overflow, its a judgement call. If they actually get into the return piping, they could plug up your overflow and potentially cause a flood. . .of course, if you set up your sump right, even this shouldn't cause a flood. If you decide to head them off at the pass, it'll probably be a futile effort, unless you're watching your tank 24/7. I have a HOB overflow, and I cut a piece of acrylic to put over the top of the portion inside my tank so it's impossible for snails to actually get inside the overflow.

 

[BigScott]

turbos..hehehe mine are the size of golf balls..they do an awsum job of the underside of my rocks..if ya start to have a problem with hair alge IMO get a conch to start taking care they will motor it down..


scott

 

[RTKBA308]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9469977#post9469977 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IslandCrow
Sounds like that turbo of yours was probably on his last leg when you bought him.

As for the other questions. Yes, you should flip your snails back over if they can't do it themselves. Astraeas can't flip themselves, and turbos have a really tough time. They basically drown if they remain upside down long enough, not to mention their easy prey for scavenging crabs (especially those deceptively benign looking blue leg hermits). As for snails heading for the overflow, its a judgement call. If they actually get into the return piping, they could plug up your overflow and potentially cause a flood. . .of course, if you set up your sump right, even this shouldn't cause a flood. If you decide to head them off at the pass, it'll probably be a futile effort, unless you're watching your tank 24/7. I have a HOB overflow, and I cut a piece of acrylic to put over the top of the portion inside my tank so it's impossible for snails to actually get inside the overflow.

Thanks.

I have piece of eggcrate, I'll cut that to size for the overflow.