Snails keep dying..

[crzypatsfan]

I have put snails in my tank twice and both times they died, why? Everything shows to be ok. I even acclimated them longer this time. For like 30 minutes but as soon as I dropped them in they never even moved. The hermits I put in are just fine and I've had 2 damsels living in it for like 3 weeks.

 

[James77]

What kind of snails?

Some snails that are sold for this hobby are not at all meant to live in the temps we keep our tanks at.

 

[E_shaw90]

How long has you tank been up? Cycled? What are your current levels?

 

[whosurcaddie]

Were the snails shipped or did you get them at a local store? How did you acclimate them?

 

[tehpineapple]

Were they active when you were acclimating them?

I usually acclimate mine in bag. I will float them for 10-15 minutes in the bag un-opened.

I will then open up the bag and fold the flaps over a few times to create an air pocket allowing it to float (kinda like loosely rolling up the sleeves of your shirt). I will add a little of my tank water in (about 1/4) every 5 minutes. I'll do this until the bag is almost too heavy to stay afloat and I'll dump half of the water out and do this process once more.

Once I'm ready to add my snails I used the method of holding the snail to the glass just above the waterline until it latches on and allow it to introduce itself to the water.

 

[eeyore357]

The tank is fully cycled, right? Reefcleaners recommends to not acclimate snails. I followed their directions and haven't had a problem. Check out what they have to say about it. Reefcleaners.org

 

[Deinonych]

The tank is fully cycled, right? Reefcleaners recommends to not acclimate snails. I followed their directions and haven't had a problem. Check out what they have to say about it. Reefcleaners.org

+1

Assuming the snails in question were appropriate for tropical temperatures, they do not need to be acclimated like fish. Common snail species like Nassarius, Cerith, Nerite etc. live intertidally and can withstand large swings in salinity. Simply temperature acclimate and put them in the tank.

 

[CStrickland]

+1 especially with shipped snails, long drips or open bags do way more harm than good.

 

[crzypatsfan]

How long has you tank been up? Cycled? What are your current levels?

It's been running since July 10th

 

[crzypatsfan]

Were the snails shipped or did you get them at a local store? How did you acclimate them?

A local store, I put the bags in the water for about 30 minutes

 

[crzypatsfan]

Were they active when you were acclimating them?

I usually acclimate mine in bag. I will float them for 10-15 minutes in the bag un-opened.

I will then open up the bag and fold the flaps over a few times to create an air pocket allowing it to float (kinda like loosely rolling up the sleeves of your shirt). I will add a little of my tank water in (about 1/4) every 5 minutes. I'll do this until the bag is almost too heavy to stay afloat and I'll dump half of the water out and do this process once more.

Once I'm ready to add my snails I used the method of holding the snail to the glass just above the waterline until it latches on and allow it to introduce itself to the water.

Thank you, I'll try that

 

[CafeReef]

What is your salinity at in your tank? inverts generally do better on the high end 1.025-1.026. But most fish stores will keep their salinity down to about 1.023 to reduce stress on fish. If you are on the high end say 1.026-1.027 that large of a swing in salinity without drip acclamation could easily shock the snails as inverts dont do well with abrupt changes in salinity.

 

[whosurcaddie]

A local store, I put the bags in the water for about 30 minutes

When you get them from the store you should drip acclimate. The problem in shipping is that when the bag is exposed to air after shipping overnight the ammonia will start to rise so you want to get them out of the shipping bag as soon as you open it.

When you get them from the store that doesn't matter. You want to acclimate them slowly snails are very sensitive to salinity changes. Try a drip acclimation next time for about an hour to and hour and a half. Tehpineapple mentioned about putting them on the glass and letting them go in the water on their own once acclimation is finished this is a great method to use.

 

[CStrickland]

Salinity / temp tolerance might depend on where they are from. Tidal snails live on rocks where the tide goes out leaving them in evaporating puddles that get quite warm and salty so they can handle that swing. Idk if it'd be true for every species, but I haven't had trouble with not dripping ceriths, nerites, trochus, nassarius, conchs, limpets, or chitons.

 

[Deinonych]

When you get them from the store that doesn't matter. You want to acclimate them slowly snails are very sensitive to salinity changes. Try a drip acclimation next time for about an hour to and hour and a half.

Drip acclimation is not necessary. The snail species that we typically use for CUC are NOT sensitive to large salinity swings given their natural habitat. Just temperature acclimate and drop them in.

Salinity / temp tolerance might depend on where they are from. Tidal snails live on rocks where the tide goes out leaving them in evaporating puddles that get quite warm and salty so they can handle that swing. Idk if it'd be true for every species, but I haven't had trouble with not dripping ceriths, nerites, trochus, nassarius, conchs, limpets, or chitons.

Exactly.

 

[Sophie10]

It's been running since July 10th

I'm sorry for the losses, but your tank is really not ready for any livestock. It's just been up a month. You are most likely still cycling. Is it to be a FOWLR or reef tank? Did you start with dry rock or established live rock? Also, what are you using for water? Take it slow on a new tank.
-David

 

[crzypatsfan]

I'm sorry for the losses, but your tank is really not ready for any livestock. It's just been up a month. You are most likely still cycling. Is it to be a FOWLR or reef tank? Did you start with dry rock or established live rock? Also, what are you using for water? Take it slow on a new tank.
-David

It's going to be a reef tank. I am getting a whole new set up today with a 20 gallon sump. I hadn't tested my salinity because I've just been adding salt water but I tested it and it's really high. How do I knock it back down?

 

[Shawn O]

You only add saltwater when you first fill the tank and when you do water changes. Are you adding salt water as the water in the tank evaporates? Salt does not evaporate, only the water evaporates, leaving the salt behind. Adding more saltwater water just increases the concentrations of salts. Add pure fresh water a little at a time to bring the salinity down.

Don't drip snails or hermits. Dump the bag into a bowl and add 1/4 of tank water every five minutes until you have more than 60-70% tank water in the bowl. Transfer snails and hermits to a small cup of tank water (bringing none of the bag water with them) and then to the tank.

 

[tehpineapple]

I'm not trying to say anyone is wrong when they say slow acclimation is not required for snails but I know that when I don't slowly acclimate I usually suffer a high loss rate.

I'm starting to think that it might be less about the species and where they come in the wild and more about where the are purchased from. The times that I have had success with not acclimating are when I purchase from a more commercial store such as PetCo while I always have to slowly acclimate ones I receive from the different LFS I go to.

Maybe, and this is HIGHLY speculative, snails kept in less desirable conditions are hardier due rapid swings in water condition (like mentioned above) and the snails purchased at LFS's are more sensitive due to being held in more desirable conditions.

Just a thought. The NyQuil is still wearing off so none of this may make sense in about 15 minutes.