Turbo Snails Mysteriously Died.

[GigaFish]

I have a FOWLR tank with 1 volitan lionfish, 1 purple tang, 1 marine betta, and one hermit crab. Recently I purchased 3 turbo snails but after introducing them to the tank, they died within 12 hours or less. I have no idea what could of caused this and I am looking for ideas.

My hermit crab is also not near as active as he has been in the past and he has been like that for about a week now. In the past week I have not seen him try to eat anything. I took some water down to the lfs. My Amm=0, Nitri=0, Nitra=10, and Alkalinity=4.0.

The lfs recommended trying a grounding probe to see if my crab could possibly be suffering from electric shock or something so I did that and he is moving around a little more, but still not anywhere like he was.

So does anyone have any ideas on what could of happened to the snails and my crab?

 

[GigaFish]

UPDATE!!!


I woke up this morning to find my hermit crabs body sitting next to his shell. I would really appreciate any suggestions as to what could of possibly caused his death and the death of my snails.

 

[jda]

Copper?

 

[GigaFish]

I have had this tank for 4 months and the crab for 1 1/2 months. I bought it used and I got everything with it including all of the food and meds he had bought for it and yes, there is a used bottle of coppersafe in there. I have never used it but I know he has. Another thing I just remembered is that the crab started acting this way after the last water change. And when I did that water change I stuck the vacuum deep into the crushed coral and it started pulling out this nasty green stuff from the bottom of the substrate. After that is when I noticed he was sick.

 

[casingbill]

I've had the same problem with turbos from my lfs on two different occasions. Ordered some from LA.com and they were fine and still are.

The crab?...maybe not enough food, or outgrew his shell and while getting ready to look for another was attacked? Crabs need upgrades.

 

[GigaFish]

Well to put an answer to all of the comments here, first of all, I did find a copper test kit in my box of stuff that I got with the tank. Whether its good or not, it tested at 0. Also something worth mentioning is that my tank is swarming with copepods. I see them all over my black background with a flashlight. If I had a bad copper problem would they be there? I am planning on switching from crushed coral to a deep sand bed so hopefully that will help if there is copper there.

Now, for the weirdest news of my day..... This morning when I found the dead crab I took the body and put it in a cup in the freezer so I could examine it further when I got home. I took the shell and just dropped it back in the tank. Now, lets pause for a minute so I can describe this crab. He was 2 inches wide, not just a small hermit you get for 30 cents. I only had one. When I came home that body was still in the freezer. But....The shell has 4 new legs and two new claws hanging out of it and they are moving. What the Hellz is going on here. I am so confused. I am 23 and turning grey over night because of this guy. Anyone have any input on this extraterrestrial activity?

 

[casingbill]

check if it molted maybe.....

 

[divedog99]

sounds like it molted, i came across the same thing in my 75 reef but when i did a head count all the hermits were still alive and kicking just 2 empty bodies laying on the sand.

 

[phinatic1971]

Your Crab is where your snail probably met his death. They kill snails often for food and looking for new homes. The molt is a good indicator, since it followed the death of the snail.