what happened to my zebra nerite?

[pennyg]

this snail was partly closed up last night sitting in the bottom of the tank...
just saw this spot on its foot. was something nibbling on it?
it is in a 20 long community tank, plenty of plants, guppies, rasbora and dwarf cory cats. there are other snails in there, mts, tiny ramhorns, and just pest snails that hitched a ride on plants long ago. ammonia and nitrite zero, nitrate about 60 ppm. water changes every week.

 

[fishhead0103666]

kno4te

 

[Tobiassorensen]

To start with i would forst of increase wc and get your nitrate down to under at least 20ppm.

 

[kno4te]

I agree with Tobias. Get those nitrates down. The other thing is I’d remove the snail. Not sure what it is but if it’s sick better to remove it. Easier to replace than treat or leave behind. Snails have their own diseases as well and medicines to use aren’t clear.

 

[pennyg]

Nitrates are not toxic to fish until like 500 ppm or some huge number. My brother and I have kept fish for decades and have never seen an issue with nitrate levels at such a low level <80 ppm. Most of the veteran fish hobbyists I know don't really sweat too much over nitrates even in marine tanks as long as it isn't causing any algae problems. If you are saying nitrate is toxic to snails? I have not heard of this but maybe you can link me to an article about it.
I guess I need to get rid of this snail. I keep nerite snails in all of my tanks so moving it to another tank is not going to work if you think it has a disease. This is the first time I have had cory cats and so I had wondered if anyone had thought the snail was being nibbled.

 

[Tobiassorensen]

Well nitrate over 25ppm aint that good for fish longterm. I know of at least one oldtimer on the forum that keeps his nitrate under 5ppm. Myself i aim for keeping my nitrate under 20ppm preferably around 10ppm. But then again im keeping rays.