Why are my snails dying

ViciousDlishus · Mar 28, 2018

Having a pretty high mortality rate with snails of all types (trochus, astraea, nassarius). I'm putting them into my qt tank for the recomended 76 days. Plenty of algae to graze on and I would think I was throwing enough meat in for the meat eaters.

Im losing 3/10 usually and it's not immediately after introducing them so I don't think it's an acclimation issue (lost 1 today that has been in there for 60 days).

Rodi water.
Phosphate might be on the high side cause I deal with algae problems but don't have a test kit (probably egg crate leaching).
No predators.

Is it just expected to lose 30% of them?

Big G · Mar 28, 2018

I've noticed the same results over the years. Good tank conditions. Very careful acclimation procedures. Sometimes I think it's probably collection, shipping and care issues. We know this can be a problem for fish; I imagine snails would be a bit worse for wear and care.

Bret Brinkmann · Mar 30, 2018

PO4 won't hurt snails. What kind of algae are you dealing with?

NinnJinn · Mar 31, 2018

If you are using the same QT tank as you are with your fish, are you making sure that the tank is totally clean and sanitized? Inverts do not do well in water treated with copper.

ViciousDlishus · Mar 31, 2018

Brand new tank for coral qt (well was brand new now 6 months old) never seen a fish or meds. Completely seperate from fish qt and over 10ft away. All seperate equipment for the hospital tank and diligent about no cross contamination.

Bret Brinkmann · Mar 31, 2018

The reason I ask about what algae is because if you have dinoflagellates, they be toxic and that is why the CUC dies after introducing them to the DT. Do you run GAC in your DT?

ViciousDlishus · Apr 1, 2018

No major algae issues. Some hair. Some heavy brown film type that accumulates on plugs and normal algae on the sides of the tank. Take is now about 6 months old.

My process is as follows. Drip snails, snails into fishless coral qt for 76 days min, when moving to display same drip procedure.

I don't treat anything directly in the qt. I do dip corals in coral Rx rinse and then back into qt.

Could risidual coral Rx affect snails? I do the dips in close proximity to the tank. I does however have a pod population that doesn't seem to be affected.

So far, in order, I've bought:
7 trochus (lost 2 in qt) none since didn't monitor when I lost these as it was a brand new tank could have been acclimation.
7 nassarius (lost 2 in qt and 3 in display) could have been due to lack of meaty food?
10 astarea (lost 6 in qt) no rhyme or reason.

rtparty · Apr 1, 2018

ViciousDlishus said:
Some heavy brown film type that accumulates on plugs and normal algae on the sides of the tank. Take is now about 6 months old.

Did you start with dry rock? Does the brown film disappear at night but come back in the day?

ViciousDlishus · Apr 1, 2018

rtparty said:
Did you start with dry rock? Does the brown film disappear at night but come back in the day?

Yes all dry rock.

I don't think so. I added more flow and it seems to have stopped the brown film. I'll see if I can get some photos.

ViciousDlishus · Apr 1, 2018

I don't have much on terms of photos. Like I said this isn't a major issue and I think has since passed. I'll take a pic of current look as the most recent deaths are what sparked mt questioning.

rtparty · Apr 1, 2018

ViciousDlishus said:
Yes all dry rock.

I don't think so. I added more flow and it seems to have stopped the brown film. I'll see if I can get some photos.

I would be on watch for dinos. If they are toxic and your snails eat them, it can/will kill them.

ViciousDlishus · Apr 1, 2018

Current photo

Bret Brinkmann · Apr 1, 2018

I was thinking dinos too but those pics really don't look like dinos. Algae shouldn't be growing on a healthy coral though, unless it is dinos in my experience. When I had dinos they didn't go away at night either, at least not until I raised nutrients.

I don't know enough about Coral RX to say it doesn't effect snails. But you could try running carbon to see if things improve. If there is some toxin, then GAC should take care of it. You would probably see the rest of your snails become a little more active. At least mine did when I started GAC after a toxic dino bloom.

Speaking of current, how much does your tank have? Does algae grow more in the dead spots?

mohican · Apr 2, 2018

Those numbers seem a bit high. Normally, snails are pretty resilient IMHO. Running the carbon is a good option. I do not know if you are running a skimmer or cheato on your QT.