Snail's Shell is Dissolving...

[Paul Bradford]

Hey everyone, I noticed the other day that one of my snail's shell seems to be dissolving in my 50g cube. Any thoughts as to why this is happening and how to stop it? Thanks in advance!

Alk = 8.8 (Hanna Checker)
Ca = 4.15 (Red Sea)
Mg = 1420 (Red Sea)
Note: I'm slowly lowering Alk and Mg, and slowly raising Ca.

Temp = 78.3 (Hanna Checker)
Ph = 8.1 (Hanna Checker)

Running carbon and GFO in a bag.

Yes, that is one of his eyes looking out through the side.

 

[Dsnakes]

That’s wild, I haven’t seen that before.

Do you have any crabs? Is it a broken hole or does it look like smooth edges. How long has it been happening? Your parameters look decent. #reefsquad

 

[reef lover]

Really looks like an old break with new shell growing in...

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Is it possible you have a mantis hitchhiker?

 

[Paul Bradford]

That’s wild, I haven’t seen that before.

Do you have any crabs? Is it a broken hole or does it look like smooth edges. How long has it been happening? Your parameters look decent. #reefsquad

I think there are two small hermit crabs left in this tank, wouldn't think that is it. Although, there is a very robust microfauna population. I'll have to take a look in the middle of the night.

 

[Paul Bradford]

Is it possible you have a mantis hitchhiker?

I don't think so. I'll look around for one. Do they normally come out at night?

 

[Paul Bradford]

Really looks like an old break with new shell growing in...

I sure hope so.

 

[reef lover]

Youll hear them clicking before you see them....generally. would take a sizeable mantis to break a conch shell...

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Do they normally come out at night?

Most are diurnal but many species can be quite cryptic. Listening for the tell tale pop is usually the easiest way to determine if you have one.

 

[Brew12]

Really looks like an old break with new shell growing in...

This is my thought, also. I think this is a new shell growing in and breaking apart the older outer shell. Not sure why it would do that though.

 

[Maritimer]

Your little fellow has had a rough few months!

At some point, either in the wild, during transport, or possibly even in your tank, his shell broke ... pretty badly. That's what looks like a window, with the blinds half-drawn. The red & white area that looks like the half-drawn blind itself is new shell being laid down by the conch's mantle. Eventually, I'd expect that to fill the rest of the hole, and he'll continue laying it down along the rim of the shell as he grows.

~Bruce, who thinks this is a pretty cool "window" into the snail's daily life!