When i first bought it, it was so active, it never stopped moving. I had two snails, one has already died. Now Im worried that this one is dying too. It bearly moves any more and when it does it goes really slow (he used to be fast) it also looks like he is falling out of his shell. his head that used to poke out is now inside his shell and the rest of him is behind the shell. his shell isnt looking so hot and he's got this slimy stringy stuff that keeps falling off. i believe its a golden mystry snail. also my betta never showed any intrest in him, but today hes been nipping at him....is my snail dying on me?
My question...
is he going to die soon? whats wrong? and how can i save him?
2006-06-15 13:13:01 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
it looks like the top of his shell is cracked, missing an outter layer in the little section that is cracked, its not too bad but it never was there before.
2006-06-15 13:19:30 · update #1
Okay.. snails do not moult. They are born with their shell and their shell continues to grow with them as they grow older.
Hermit Crabs moult and change shells.
Slimy stringly stuff doesn't sound good. It could possible be a fungus that has affected him. They sell anti fungal meds at pet stores.
Snails are weird. They will be really active and then all of a sudden they will stay in the same spot for a long time and you will think it is dead.
I have a large blacky mystery snail in my larger tank. I have thought he died like 5 times already because he will sit in the same place and not move for days. I think he even stayed in one area for a few weeks.
I often have people return snails to my store saying they died and I look at the snail and tell them the snail prob isn't dead. (it usually isn't, and usually when they die they fall out of their shell.)
You need to feed them algea waffers or offer a live plant for them to eat off of. There may not be enough algea in the tank for him to eat as well.
2006-06-15 20:57:20 · answer #1 · answered by Miss. Kitty 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
First off snails dont molt or change shells. Second, do you feed your snail and have you done any test to see what the water is like? Snails need to be fed algae wafers and fresh veggies, they dont just eat algae from the tank unlike what so many people think. If your water is soft, crushed coral is good and you can also add Kents liquid calcium to help his shell stay nice. If you try feeding him and getting the water right, which doesn't just mean the ph and hardness but the ammonia and nitrIte too, which should both be 0, then he may perk back up other wise he will die just like the other.
2006-06-15 13:42:00 · answer #2 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/fwsnailsysfaqs.htm
It sounds like you may have very soft water. Read through the above link about ways to raise your pH safely (a tiny piece of coral or cuttlebone in the water, small amounts of baking soda), and how water conditions affect snails.
It does sound like this snail is dying, especially since the betta is nipping. I don't know if it is too late to save him, but it might be. Try gettign your water tested at the local pet store, and see what comes of that. Good luck!!
2006-06-15 13:23:20 · answer #3 · answered by Hauntedfox 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HI you might want to check out the web site i belong to. it is called www.kokosgoldfish.com. It is not only about goldfish, but also snails, tropicals and kois. The people on there are very knowledgable and will be able to answer you question for you. It is free to join and ask questions of the members. Many have been keeping fish for years.
2006-06-16 10:50:35 · answer #4 · answered by stlceltic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have ever used a parasite cure containing copper that may be your problem and i don't know of anything that will get it all out of the tank if that is the case you probably won't be able to keep snails in that tank
2006-06-15 15:56:45 · answer #5 · answered by yankabilly46 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They sale snails at a petstore? Wow. Get a slug if you want something slow, slimy and less interesting. You can pick them off the ground outside after it rains.
2006-06-15 13:19:34 · answer #6 · answered by ♥c0c0puffz♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do you have him in an established tank. He could be diseased.
If he is diseased you must clean the tank in very hot water. Boil what you can throw away the rest. Only buy from Pet stores, they usually have a quarantine time to wait before they allow new fish out. It is more safe.
2006-06-15 14:09:43 · answer #7 · answered by tracy b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He could be molting. Meaning, he could be changing shells. The temperature difference could have something to with it. He could be dying. I he does, i'm so sorry. Maybe he's dry. Be careful!
A fast snail? How adorable!
2006-06-15 13:19:08 · answer #8 · answered by otter7 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe ur snail is sick, and dying... that explains beta picking at him he can sense it...ahhhh, if u are attached i suggest taking ur baby to the vet..but if older snail died same way could be a bacteria, or virus..
may be separate him from beta in clean water... and take to vet poor little guy
2006-06-15 13:20:05 · answer #9 · answered by pherypher 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take it to a vet! 6 of my snailed died but 4 of them are okay./
2006-06-15 13:35:36 · answer #10 · answered by holla! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋