Can't keep snails alive,,, any thoughts

[buckroe07]

I don't know if they are Mexican or not. Always from the same store.. I had started with 6 but now down to only 3.. Sure seems like starvation but can't be sure..

my previous post should have stated zero nitrites not nitrates... would not let me edit.

From what I have read they appear to be sensitive to nitrates so I'm guess that's my problem. Not sure what the upper limit is for nitrates, not posted in the articles that I have read.

Correct. They don't tolerate high nitrate, mag, Cu, or temp. Blue legged hermits are less aggressive than red legs. Hermits do mess with snails but for the most part if the snail is do well it literally shakes them off of just closes. Otherwise the snail was dying or just died that's why its being eatin. Astraea, nerite, and cerith snails do a good job on algae.

 

[Preme]

I would try and feed them some algae sheets or pellets.

+1

 

[Roy 9121]

Have you tested your magnesium? They are sensitive to that.
I feed my tank algea pellets, my turbos seem to like them

 

[Roy 9121]

Here is a phone pic of 3 snails..

Also I rarely ever have hair algae... PH is 7.9

Looks like two Trochus Snail's and a turbo. Is that right?

 

[3mm3]

Here is a phone pic of 3 snails..

Also I rarely ever have hair algae... PH is 7.9

All 3 are Turbo Fluctuosa (Mexican turbo snail)
These don't do well in the average reef aquarium. The only luck I ever had with these was a reef setup I kept at 72 degrees. Even then they didn't hit 2 years.

 

[Frop]

do you have to feed the little buggers?? thought they lived off of algae..

water chem is good except for nitrates.. plenty of coralline everwhere.

Blizz

Some times if they fall I think they can also die from not being able to move. Not sure. I just know it seemed like some times in the beginning of my tank I had to flip them over. One time I was late and a crab was eating it.

 

[twreefer]

Boy is that the truth. Emerald crabs are even worse.

My emerald seems to leave my snails alone. My hermits may occasionally go after them, but only when they have a really nice shell. But then there's my crown conch, I have to keep him in isolation or he would kill em all.

 

[Mimmrfr]

I had no issues except how LARGE turbos grew as long as I had NO crabs!!! I run my tank a little"dirty (25 'trates) which assures plenty of food. I've always kept low numbers...nothing like typical recommendations. In a 65gal. I kept 5 and in my 120 I keep 7. They just keep growing and doing an awesome job!! The only death I've experienced is due to husbandry issues when I didn't realize they had fallen off ( they are clumsy) the glass and can't turn themselves over. I now count my turbos as I count fish each morning.

 

[Greg Miller]

Turbo snails always seem to die in my 30 gallon tank too. I've heard the turbos are not for everyone so I switched to a different breed the LFS recommended (the breed name escapes me). After I switched breeds I eliminated the problem. I've had some of my snails for many years.

 

[JP79]

I was going to say some turbo snails can't right them selfs. But it looks like you have Mexican turbos. I would guess they are not starving. I also think that your nitrates are way to high. That will kill almost any invert. Gotta get that down. I also would never recommend feeding snails. You'll just dirty the water more. Inverts always find stuff to eat.

 

[bxclent]

I also have no luck with the larger snails.
Everyone keeps saying they don't like higher Temps, but never state what is considered " higher temps".

 

[topjimmy]

Have you ever treated this system with copper?

 

[ying yang]

Have you ever treated this system with copper?

Unfortunately this thread started 5 years ago and original poster not been inline in 4 years.
Btw my first thought when read thread was has system got copper in but then reading Mexican turbos,I often see stated dont do well in what we keep our tanks at which generally around 77/78 and they don't last to long,but there is a different kind of turbo snail that does ok at reef temps but forgot the name lol

 

[Borat]

try eating 0 protein 0 carbs food - see how long you will live..

 

[HuduVudu]

Inverts need iron.

I stopped losing them when I started dosing iron. I have been dosing for a year and my snails are huge with nice feet.

Unfortunately iron is "evil" because of cyano and it is therefore not present in most (if not all) salt mixes.