anyway of telling when snails are dead?

[mr.p]

Man I have no luck with Snails the ones I bought before died well I assume they died in 3 days they didn't move and they stunk so I tossed them. I bought two yesterday and they haven't moved yet either and I don't want to smell it because I hated the smell big time. Should they be moving by now? I'm thinking i need to raise my salinity, are snails more sensative to lower salinity then hermit crabs? because I have a couple of those a they are doing okay just not very active.

 

[jdragunas]

In my experience, i have lost snails and my hermies lived, so my conclusion is that they are more sensative to lower salinity. Most inverts need a SG of 1.025 - 1.026. If yours is lower than that, it's probably the culprit. I'd suggest raising the SG if you want to keep snails. Make sure you do it slowly too.

Jenn

 

[mr.p]

Okay thank you Mrs. Dancing Banana

I'll raise it is it 100 percent for sure snails would die with a lower salt level then what you mentioned? I think one of my snails is slowly starting to move but I'm not sure lol.

 

[jdragunas]

No, it's not guaranteed that they won't survive in a lower SG. My snails are doing great, and my SG is around 1.024 (hydrometer...yuck!) I've only lost one, and that's cause he landed upside down under some LR, and i couldn't flip him over...

Jenn

<--- i love this guy... he's my life story!

 

[mr.p]

Do you know how to tell if they are dead without smelling them? I guess if they don't move within 2 or 3 days? lol. I was told they should take off right away but only one seems to have latched on to something but he's not moving. hmmm. Thanks for the help by the way.

I like putting the dancing banana for no reason in threads he makes me happy.

 

[airforceb2]

How are you acclimating your snails? It is true that low salinity will kill snails but they can also die from shock. They will not move for about a day...if 2 days go by and still no movement, take it out or you will create an ammonia spike from the decaying snail. Unfortunately, smelling it is the only sure way to see if it is dead or not.

 

[jdragunas]

Well, you could pick it up, and shake the shell a little. If the snail falls out, he's definately dead, but i don't know how safe that is...

:notsure: :thinking:
Jenn

 

[jdragunas]

Originally Posted by Mr.P
...Thanks for the help by the way.

I like putting the dancing banana for no reason in threads he makes me happy.
I've added him to my signature, because he's so stinkin cute. You know, we should name him.... How about Walter?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by airforceb2
How are you acclimating your snails? It is true that low salinity will kill snails but they can also die from shock. They will not move for about a day...if 2 days go by and still no movement, take it out or you will create an ammonia spike from the decaying snail. Unfortunately, smelling it is the only sure way to see if it is dead or not.
Excellent post of the day right here!

 

[fish_wok]

they dont move ?

 

[mr.p]

Walter is fine for the name. =) I'll check them today and I have been picking them up and moving them around but they don't move, all I see is sand falling out. I'll check tomorrow morning if they are still in the same spot then i'll smell them I guess even though i'm really sensative to smell lol. I think maybe my salinity is too low, do hermit crabs tolerate lower salinity better then snails?

 

[computrgk]

the way i can usually tell is one of two ways either and most often my hermit is eating it second less often is that the "door" just kinda falls off thats how i know i've had some trouble keeping snails too though most of mine last a couple months then die so i'm constantly buying snails jeez

 

[mr.p]

I don't really want them but I I buy or try at least to buy them to help clean a little of the algae on the glass of my tank. I don't want snails at all actually lol , hermit crabs are much cooler. snails suck! (j.k)

 

[jerthunter]

I don't know if this is a good idea or not but when I get snails and after I have accumulated them I hold them near the glass of my tank until they grab on, that why I can make sure they are healthy... so if you think they are dead maybe you can pick them up and then hold them near the glass and see if they grab on or not.. Just an idea.

 

[bigb]

Originally Posted by Mr.P
I'll check them today and I have been picking them up and moving them around but they don't move, all I see is sand falling out. I'll check tomorrow morning if they are still in the same spot then i'll smell them I guess even though i'm really sensative to smell lol. I think maybe my salinity is too low, do hermit crabs tolerate lower salinity better then snails?
If all you see ids sand, they are most probably dead and their remains eaten already. They may not have a bad smell depending on how long it's been since their remains were eaten.If you see a round disk on your sand, the "door" that computerGK said, they are also dead.

 

[jdragunas]

Originally Posted by Jerthunter
I don't know if this is a good idea or not but when I get snails and after I have accumulated them I hold them near the glass of my tank until they grab on, that why I can make sure they are healthy... so if you think they are dead maybe you can pick them up and then hold them near the glass and see if they grab on or not.. Just an idea.
i do the same thing!
Jenn

 

[wieselspor]

have any of you had sand accumulate on the foot of the snail when they pass through the sand. my sand has a lot of silt.

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by ComputrGk
the way i can usually tell is one of two ways either and most often my hermit is eating it second less often is that the "door" just kinda falls off thats how i know i've had some trouble keeping snails too though most of mine last a couple months then die so i'm constantly buying snails jeez
If your constantly buying more snails, maybe you should check on the levels in your tank. You shouldn't have to constantly be replacing your snails. Check on your tank before you kill more.

When I got my snails, they didn't move for 2 days, then some started moving towards the top of the tank with a few still sitting there. Then the rest scattered in different places after a couple more days later. I thought they were dead since they didn't move for so many days. I started with 6 and still have 6, I count them everyday...lol.. This is what I was told how to find out if they're dead, SMELL IT!!! lol....

Just make sure if your snails is flipped upside down, flip him over. Some species of snails can't flip themselves over and they'll die sitting there. I flip them every few days, they're a pain!!! So far they haven't flipped themselves over the past two days, hoping it stays that way... :happyfish