Snail question(s)

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I

iloveyouDIE

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 29, 2010
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Philadelphia
I don't keep a breeding tank for snails or any of that jazz. We just usually pick up mystery snails for tank maintenance and cleanup.. and plus I like to watch them.

Our snails usually seem to die after a few months. I'm never sure if they are killed/eaten or if they are just dying. Also I am at work while I am online so I don't have my water parameters accessible, but I never have problems with my fish and water quality.

Only one of my snails (black) has managed to stay alive for quite a while and has gotten rather big but he's the only snail in his tank (55 gal with silver dollars and severum).

The tank with the worst snail 'luck' is our other 55 gal containing our Blood Parrot, pleco and rainbowfish. I suspect maybe they are being eaten/killed?

Also I NEVER find any nice snails in our LFS.. they just don't seem to care much for snails. I'd like to get a nicer snail or two that will grow and be attractive and large (but I won't put them where they will die!). Should I buy online?
 
I used to have the same problem. Eventually I concluded that my PH was too low. A ph below 7.0 will cause their shells to dissolve, crack, and erode. If your snails die with pale, see-through, and cracked shells it's a good chance it's the ph. Ever since I started keeping mystery snails again I always include a handful of crushed coral and supplements of cuttlebone. Ever since then my snails have had perfectly smooth shells.
 
Oooooh I actually do have some cuttlebone laying around. Thanks! Should I break it up?

Some of them do have thin looking shells. Others I think may have been murdered.. ;_;
 
Yeah break them into smaller pieces. Just toss one in every month. It will float at first but it will sink eventually. You can also feed foods high in calcium such as raisins and kale.
 
I saw it yesterday and got such a kick out of it I sent the link to my friends lol
 
Any advice on buying nice snails? I would like to put them in the tank where snails DON'T die.
 
Aquabid would be your best bet unless you find a reliable lfs. There are several sellers there that have perfect snails. Not to mention they are relativley cheap. Lots of color morphs too.
 
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