Turbo Snails slowing and dying.

EmdeReef · Feb 22, 2018

Bad test kit or tank not fully cycled...since you’re using API it’s very possible it’s giving a false positive. If you can, get another test kit or take a sample to a lfs that uses some other kit.

For snails you can attach some nori with a rubber band to a pice of rock. Generally best to do at night when the fish are asleep.

Ashish Patel · Feb 22, 2018

I have 5 turbos (2 larger, 3 medium size), in a 120 gallon and I find myself constantly having to feed them nori on my algae grid. I believe 1 of my larger turbo snails produces more poop than 1 of my 3" yellow tang. I would not recommend more than 1 medium size turbo for your tank for the time being. If algae is becoming a problem better to add one later but I bet that 1 turbo would keep your tank clean as well as become fat and healthy. Unlike fish they can't go and scavenge once algae is out or minimal and with 5 they are certainly starving themselves out. In my previous 120g tank I had only 1 large turbo snail it grew to 3" and was my only clean up crew member and it did its job. When the turbos have enough food they will eat at night and sleep during the day. If they are starved they will look for food during the day; when this happens I know its time to supplement feed. If they are sleeping with tons of poop around them I know Im good.

In your case If they are at a point of no return it may be hard but try nori on a grid or rubber band it to a rock and put it right infront of the turbo. If it eats the food it should recover. I don't believe its your ammonia but it may be a factor so definitely take care of that.

Benga · Feb 22, 2018

EmdeReef said:
Bad test kit or tank not fully cycled...since you’re using API it’s very possible it’s giving a false positive. If you can, get another test kit or take a sample to a lfs that uses some other kit.

For snails you can attach some nori with a rubber band to a pice of rock. Generally best to do at night when the fish are asleep.

Very much a possibility i'll take a sample to the LFS for testing. I have some nori laying around i'll start supplementing.

Ashish Patel said:
I have 5 turbos (2 larger, 3 medium size), in a 120 gallon and I find myself constantly having to feed them nori on my algae grid. I believe 1 of my larger turbo snails produces more poop than 1 of my 3" yellow tang. I would not recommend more than 1 medium size turbo for your tank for the time being. If algae is becoming a problem better to add one later but I bet that 1 turbo would keep your tank clean as well as become fat and healthy. Unlike fish they can't go and scavenge once algae is out or minimal and with 5 they are certainly starving themselves out. In my previous 120g tank I had only 1 large turbo snail it grew to 3" and was my only clean up crew member and it did its job. When the turbos have enough food they will eat at night and sleep during the day. If they are starved they will look for food during the day; when this happens I know its time to supplement feed. If they are sleeping with tons of poop around them I know Im good. In your case If they are at a point of no return it may be hard but try nori on a grid or rubber band it to a rock and put it right infront of the turbo. If it eats the food it should recover. I don't believe its your ammonia but it may be a factor so definitely take care of that.

Very useful information, thank you!

laverda · Feb 22, 2018

Ammonia and nitrite are both toxic to snails. One snail drying should not cause an ammonia spike once your tank is established. As someone else mentioned Mexican turbo snails are not tropical snails and do not do well in the range most people keep reeftanks at. The higher the temp the shorter they will live. 75-76 is about the highest temp they can tolerate long term in my experience.

GoldeneyeRet · Feb 22, 2018

High magnesium or pyramid snails are two other possibilities.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 22, 2018

Benga said:
What do you think may be the cause of an Ammonia increase? I thought the dead snail might have caused it or maybe i'm overfeeding

vetteguy53081 · Feb 22, 2018

Ammonia generally associated with overfeeding and inadequate filtration. Here you may need to increase water changes

Benga · Feb 22, 2018

GoldeneyeRet said:
High magnesium or pyramid snails are two other possibilities.

When I first bought these snails a few months ago, I did see some pyramid snails on them but i brushed them off and haven't seen any since, I'll keep a look out and purchase a mg test as well.

vetteguy53081 said:
Ammonia generally associated with overfeeding and inadequate filtration. Here you may need to increase water changes

I do want to replace my skimmer but I think i'll save it for when i redo my entire sump setup. In the meantime i'll bump up the weekly waterchanges

75pxatr · Feb 22, 2018

Benga said:
What do you think may be the cause of an Ammonia increase? I thought the dead snail might have caused it or maybe i'm overfeeding

Your tank looks new and may not have fully matured yet. I would not add the turbo snails yet. Invertebrates can be very sensitive to change.

Mr.Fishtank · Feb 22, 2018

I have always used API for testing ammonia. If it doesn't read 0 then there is a problem. Sending a sample to Triton or another lab would be my suggestion. At least you will then know what all your levels are at. Could be something else like high levels of copper.

Jeepguy242 · Feb 22, 2018

by the time a triton test comes back the problem will have corrected itself and everything will have perished

not knocking triton, but he needs to get it resolved quick

paperdesk · Feb 22, 2018

Dinoflagellates can kill snails too. I think I have had this happen.

Koi Obsession · Feb 22, 2018

they could be starving because of no food. tank looks to clean. Temp can kill them as well i think if over 80 degrees in the water then the snails will start to die off as well . unless they are old and used to the higher temps that is.

GoldeneyeRet · Feb 22, 2018

Also improper acclamation could cause this also

Benga · Feb 23, 2018

Jeepguy242 said:
by the time a triton test comes back the problem will have corrected itself and everything will have perished

not knocking triton, but he needs to get it resolved quick

Agreed, it's a powerful tool but turnaround time in emergency cases is too long.

paperdesk said:
Dinoflagellates can kill snails too. I think I have had this happen.

I don't think i have dino, tank is pretty clean, i'll be getting rid of sand too in a month or two.

Koi Obsession said:
they could be starving because of no food. tank looks to clean. Temp can kill them as well i think if over 80 degrees in the water then the snails will start to die off as well . unless they are old and used to the higher temps that is.

Yea I keep my temps between 76-78 im thinking of keeping it closer to 76 now. I think it's food, I started supplementing the food and now im noticing them inactive during the day and active at night, and a lot more snail poop in the tank.

Andres Ricardo perez · Feb 23, 2018

Son turbo del atlantico son de aguas más frías, la están pasando mal no duran mucho tiempo

Mal Cameron · Feb 23, 2018

Dont trust API test kits. My nitrates were testing nil with API (not out of date) but were actually 50. Get a good test kit for all your tests. Cheers.

Mal Cameron · Feb 23, 2018

Dont use API test kits. Cheap and not accurate. I was getting a reading of zero nitrates when in fact it was 50. And yes the test kit was still within use by date.

bubblemytip · Feb 23, 2018

I’m addition to checking whether the snail is from temperate not tropical waters, also check your magnesium. High mag can cause snails to slow right down.