Snail on his back

[pulse]

One of my astrea snails has been on his back for about a week. i have no problems with any others, and my chemistry is good.
the snail is clearly alive, and moves his foot slightly every so often. i have read that snails may be inactive for several days, but a week plus seems like a lot of time.
how long should i wait before taking the snail out of the tank?

 

[zeke92]

Um...i would put it right-side-up. i've lost alot of new snails before realizing why they died. They always fell shell first and most couldn't get back up.

 

[subielover]

You let your snail on its back for a week

Just flip him over. Pretty sure astreas are the snails that cannot right themselves, which means they will need your assistance, or they are goners. HTH

 

[as1720]

Sorry. Poor little snail!!

 

[pulse]

doh! let me try that.
btw, i have had plenty of snails in that sito that have righted themselves

 

[subielover]

I only have nass and turbos but they can both right themselves. I think I read something that said astreas cannot

 

[cranberry]

Astraeas definately cannot right themselves when they are not close enough to anything to "grab ahold" of.

 

[paintballer768]

My margaritas and nass can but I think astreas cannot, or maybe Im referring to turbos?

 

[subielover]

Well I have seen my turbo do it once, it took him a while, I felt bad I just watched for about half an hour and then he finally did it. Another time I saw him struggling and just flipped him over, he gave me a high five and that was that

 

[cranberry]

Astraeas and turbos lack the right reflex... not to say every now and then they don't fluke into a successful turn over, but the conditions have to be just right. When I get up and when I go to bed I go around and check all the tanks, flipping any fallen snails. I don't keep hermits because I keep these snails.

 

[pulse]

well. i righted him and he moved.
it's funny, these guys used to be nocturnal when i had a trigger and a puffer. now that i have reef fish, they are out all day.
i wonder how they know?

 

[fcatch76]

Originally Posted by subielover
http:///forum/post/2747287
Well I have seen my turbo do it once, it took him a while, I felt bad I just watched for about half an hour and then he finally did it. Another time I saw him struggling and just flipped him over, he gave me a high five and that was that

That made my day!!! Snail gave me a high five...

Good one Subie!!
To the topic, why would you let a snail sit that long on his back

. Do you have children???