Snail death normal?

Rikerbear · Feb 2, 2013

So when I started this nano of mine I added several turbo snails as part of my CUC. Over the weeks I have lost several of them....they just for no apparent reason die. Is this normal? I really don't remember ever having this as an issue back when I kept FOWLR tanks.
Out of the original 8 snails I'd say at last count I have 3 left.
Could it be that there is just not enough for them to feed on? My tank is pretty darn clean and I am not feeding very much at all.
All my parameters are well within norms.
Temp: 79
PH: 8.2
SG: 1.025
N03: 0
N04: 0
P04: 0.25
NH3: 0
Calcium:420
Alk: 11
Mag: 1350

ritter6788 · Feb 2, 2013

Could be starving. Are the shells empty when you find them or is there still dead snail in the shell?

fragmatic · Feb 2, 2013

Three things:
> snails often need the best acclimate method you know how to do.
> snails are often already in recline before you get them to your tank.
> yes, snails need food, and often this is a serious problem for them in a new tank.

If they are climbing the glass and wanting out of the tank they are either hungry or water conditions are not to their liking.

EDIT: after reviewing your testing, I'd guess they are starving, OR you have a predication problem (someone killing them).

Rikerbear · Feb 2, 2013

ritter6788 said:
Could be starving. Are the shells empty when you find them or is there still dead snail in the shell?

Some of each. I have found two shells empty, and one with the body hanging out of the shell (alerted to this by seeing the peppermint shrimp all on it)
I have one other I just can't find.......
The other three are all over the tank like normal
I also forgot to mention I had three bumble bee snails too and seem to be down to only one of those also :sad:

Rikerbear · Feb 2, 2013

Hmmm...the only snail that crawled out of the tank once was my tonga sand sifter snail.
I have never seen either the hermits or the emerald crab bothering them....only picking at the empty shells I have found....which could mean they killed the snails and were just 'licking the plate clean' as it were.
Hmmmmm
Thanks for the replies :wink:

fragmatic · Feb 2, 2013

This:
If you have hermits you need a fist full of extra hermit "can choose to change" shells for them to test and grow into. OR, they will kill snails for their shells, and then eat the meat.

Many LFS will provide a few different sized shell packages of these shells for a small fee.

Rikerbear · Feb 2, 2013

fragmatic said:
This:
If you have hermits you need a fist full of extra hermit "can choose to change" shells for them to test and grow into. OR, they will kill snails for their shells, and then eat the meat.

Many LFS will provide a few different sized shell packages of these shells for a small fee.

I have a good 20ish assorted sizes of shells I tossed in during the cycling of the tank.....but that doesn't mean that the hermits didn't think the snail shells were somehow 'better'.
The three blue leg hermits have all changed shells since being introduced, but none have taken any of the empty snail shells
My red hermit is still in it's original shell
Thanks for the reply :smile:

Connie · Feb 2, 2013

Get you some algae wafers and put a few in your tank close to where the snails are. They will find it and eat it. Keep doing that until your tank matures and starts making enough food for them.

Rikerbear · Feb 2, 2013

Connie said:
Get you some algae wafers and put a few in your tank close to where the snails are. They will find it and eat it. Keep doing that until your tank matures and starts making enough food for them.

Thanks :smile:
I'll go get some of those tomorrow, cause I am leaning towards starvation as the cause.