Snails shipped are they dead?

[Samanthabea]

Never had snails before and this is my first saltwater tank I have 2 cerith and 4 nazirith and a red tipped hermit just shipped and came in today at first I could see both cerith and now ones gone but the other the shell looks empty I can't tell if it's inside it or what and none of the nazirith have moved from when I put them in the hermit crab looks like he's doing fine just exploring and eating there are no fish in the tank yet

 

[Suohhen]

It isn't distypical for snails to not move for a while after being acclimated. Snails have the ability to self regulate the exchange of water to self acclimate in a way but this is much easier for them at the waterline so what I do is hold the snails to the glass when I first put them in which has the added benefit of verifying that they are alive.

 

[davidcalgary29]

I'd get the snails out of your display and into a jar with saltwater at the appropriate specific gravity if you think they might be dead AND you have a small, new tank. You can pick them up and smell them: you'll never forget the smell of a dead snail, and if will be very apparent to you if one has died.

Cerith snails are pretty tough; I'd give them some time. Nassarius snails are also pretty hardy -- you may just have to be patient. But, if in doubt, get them out of your display!

 

[Samanthabea]

It's a 55 gallon it is very new all the levels were safe though would suspending a glass or something similar work to keep the heat up to temp for the questionable ones if they are still alive or should I just leave them for a day these are the first to this tank

 

[Suohhen]

You can certainly do that but like I said I'd take them and hold them to the glass and see if they grab hold. David's tip is good as well to smell them. If they don't take hold but also don't smell dead I'd just throw them back in. Even if they are dead you have no fish so what is it going to hurt.

 

[zukihara]

Newly acclimated snail can take up to 72 hours to start moving per Reefcleaners. Mine all took a while.

 

[Samanthabea]

Ok I'm just going to stop fretting now (new tank syndrome for humans) I just found a mystery snail that didn't come with what I had ordered on the top of the tank take all you advice to heart and wait a couple days they didn't smell but wouldn't latch so they might have survived and are just hiding out

 

[ApoIsland]

I wouldnt worry about it. If the snails die the hermit crab would probably be eat it. If the hermit gets hungry enough he will eat your live ones too.