Snails are burrowing in my sand.....

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puffer_girl

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 31, 2005
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Went to the pet store today and asked for some snails for my puffer. Usually they give me rounded snails but today ended up with cone shaped ones. Weren't in the tank for more than 2 minutes and started burrowing in the sand. Is this normal? Concerned because of my salt content (rougly .005-.006) that they are going to die in the sand and affect my water quality.... Is this salt enough to kill them and should I take them out?
 
I cannot find any mention of an upper limit to tolerated salt levels for malaysian trumpet snails but I did find them mentioned being eaten by fiddler crabs and kept with mudskippers, both of which are usually brackish.
They are great snails because they churn uo your substrate and don't munch your plants, the babies are eaten by several fish but the adults are too tough for most. Puffers should not have a problem. The snails are livebearers.
One thing I did see is that they are one of the hardiest snails around.
 
guppy said:
I cannot find any mention of an upper limit to tolerated salt levels for malaysian trumpet snails but I did find them mentioned being eaten by fiddler crabs and kept with mudskippers, both of which are usually brackish.
They are great snails because they churn uo your substrate and don't munch your plants, the babies are eaten by several fish but the adults are too tough for most. Puffers should not have a problem. The snails are livebearers.
One thing I did see is that they are one of the hardiest snails around.
Good! I was actually hoping for snails to breed in that tank, because of the puffer, but was told that they would not tolerate any salt! Because I heard this my main concern was them burrowing and then dying but if the salt isn't a problem then there doesn't seem to be anything to worry about. :) Good news! Thanks for the info!!!!!
 
I have read that these snails can chip the teeth of puffers but I have never fed them to my fahaka puffer.
 
Thanks for the info. Read that site and it was very informative. Only put 3 of the snails in the puffer tank cause he also had shrimp and will stuff himself if has to much..... Found 2 of them and hoping that this wont be a problem. Were only in there about 5-6 hrs. and because they burrowed one is MIA...... Think will be ok?! Don't want an infestation....
 
After reading the info (I hate to say this) but I would go through the sand untill I find the last one. Could the puffer have already found it?
 
Not sure... There were small circles where they burrowed but I dug down and around the one and couldn't find it. Don't think the puffer would have got it unless it came back out.... If there would be babies (don't know what the odds are since they weren't in long) maybe their shells would be weaker since they're young.... Is this how snails are I wonder?! Darn, I'll try looking again for the one.....
 
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