Turbo Snails MIA

[mommafishinmd]

Yesterday when I got home from work I noticed a good amount of my turbo snails were hiding or gone. We usually have a fair amount on the glass and bottom of our reef. Then we looked closely and saw one turbo on his side and not moving, we thought he must be dead. Then when the lights went out we saw him leave his shell and occupy the empty one next to where he was, is that why he was playing dead for half the day?

But then we noticed a pile of them in the corner, which was only 3 of them and they were all moving. Now this morning I wake up and the pile has grown to 6 of them. Could they be breeding? I am lost on what is happening with them. They are either being eaten or hiding and now I find them in piles??

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by MommaFishinMD
Yesterday when I got home from work I noticed a good amount of my turbo snails were hiding or gone. We usually have a fair amount on the glass and bottom of our reef. Then we looked closely and saw one turbo on his side and not moving, we thought he must be dead. Then when the lights went out we saw him leave his shell and occupy the empty one next to where he was, is that why he was playing dead for half the day?

But then we noticed a pile of them in the corner, which was only 3 of them and they were all moving. Now this morning I wake up and the pile has grown to 6 of them. Could they be breeding? I am lost on what is happening with them. They are either being eaten or hiding and now I find them in piles??

I didn't think snails were able to leave their shells, it's like a part of them. Do you happen to have any hermit crabs? Perhaps a hermit killed/ate the snail and took his shell, only to leave it and go into another.

 

[mommafishinmd]

Originally Posted by m0nk
I didn't think snails were able to leave their shells, it's like a part of them. Do you happen to have any hermit crabs? Perhaps a hermit killed/ate the snail and took his shell, only to leave it and go into another.

I just talked to someone who said the same thing, that snails will not leave their shell for another but I could have sweared thats what we were seeing after hours last night. Yes we have a hermit and maybe your right maybe him or the Brittle ate the snail out of his shell. I don't know but it looks like it is time to by more turbo's since something is eating them!

 

[porthosandjazz]

While you are at it, possibly buy more empty shells for your growing hermit to occupy? I am going through the same thing, I am trying to find empty shells somewhere reputable where I don't have to have a $79 minimum order to get it delivered. Hehehe

 

[blaze98]

I found that my hermits were killing my snails for bigger homes, just watched this happen yesterday, even though I had extra shells laying around for the hermits.

 

[m0nk]

It's very likely to happen, no matter how hard you try to keep the hermits from killing your snails. Hermits are opportunistic feeders and will either eat fallen food, algea, detritus, or any slow moving prey within reach (when it's hungry). Even if there are empty shells, they have a tendency to kill snails out of hunger or aggression (aggression in the case of blue-legged, they're mean buggers). I only keep a few hermits per a large snail population, since they're good at cleaning up. I do keep an eye on them, though, since I prefer the docile nature of the snails, and will remove hermits that cause problems.

 

[miaheatlvr]

EVERYBODY, loses turbos snails, from time to time, sometimes there is no explantion, Sometimes they fall off the glass, cant get rightsided and get eaten, some ARE killed for thier shells, it can be a hermit crab sport, but make sure you have empty shells anyway. You might want to get a MEXICAN TURBO,, really really big 2 inches across just one can do a 55g tank,, Ive had mine over a year,, Sleeps in the day. Very hardy.. I started my tank almost 2 years ago with about 10 turbos,, I HAVE ZERO now besides my mexican turbo..

 

[mommafishinmd]

I just got home and 90% of my turbo's are DEAD! I guess it is time to get hermit bigger shells. Do you think that the Brittle would eat them? Maybe when the brittle knocks them off the glass they land on their backs and can not flip over.

 

[miaheatlvr]

Originally Posted by MommaFishinMD

I just got home and 90% of my turbo's are DEAD! I guess it is time to get hermit bigger shells. Do you think that the Brittle would eat them? Maybe when the brittle knocks them off the glass they land on their backs and can not flip over.

This might be TOO MANY DEAD TO FAST, you might have a water issue or salinity problem or acclimation process problem...

 

[reefernana]

Originally Posted by porthosandjazz
While you are at it, possibly buy more empty shells for your growing hermit to occupy? I am going through the same thing, I am trying to find empty shells somewhere reputable where I don't have to have a $79 minimum order to get it delivered. Hehehe
I actually found a big bag of different types of shells at of all places at the Dollar Tree. They were perfect in size. I just boiled a few, let them cool, and threw them in. My hermits have been sporting their new digs with pride.......lol!

 

[porthosandjazz]

Originally Posted by reefernana
I actually found a big bag of different types of shells at of all places at the Dollar Tree. They were perfect in size. I just boiled a few, let them cool, and threw them in. My hermits have been sporting their new digs with pride.......lol!

that's cool! I tried the same thing at a craft store here... someone told me not to use them because they had paint on them and that might toxify the tank or something. That seemed logical to me... Make sure they aren't painted I guess...

 

[mommafishinmd]

Originally Posted by MiaHeatLvr
This might be TOO MANY DEAD TO FAST, you might have a water issue or salinity problem or acclimation process problem...
Yup that is what hubby just said, on his way home and we are testing it. But the turbos that are face down in the LS maybe still alive just not moving. We will test and watch them tonight!