How to care for snails?

tinkgrl12

tinkgrl12

Jaclyn
Oct 10, 2005
8
0
0
In Ohio
I have bought freshwater snails many times and they always keep dying. Actually the first time I bought them I realized that I had actually purchased an expensive meal for my Oscar. However now in a separate tank I am having problems keeping snails alive!!! My tank is established and my other fish are fine so what is my deal? Am I missing something? Am I accidently a snail killer or something! If anyone can just give me a few pointers or maybe if you know why they are dying just go ahead and tell me. Thank you!!!
 
actually it could be alot of things, i don't think its the tank mates. i know snails are picky and need good water quality if i am correct. they are very sensitive to water changes especialy when adding them. if this is the case try acclimating them before adding. do this when transferring for bag to QT tank to main tank.
 
Thanks everyone. I usually buy the apple snails. I bought four today so we will see how it goes, I am taking more time acclimating them to the water and I also bought a plant just in case they were not getting enough food. I also just got 9 free silver dollars today lol they also love to eat plants and I think they might get to it before the snails do. Oh Wannabefishguru if you have an ick problem did you try turning up the heat? When I had ick I turned the water temp. up to 80 degrees the fish survive in that heat as long as they are tropical and the ick dies. Just thought I would let you know, I will post how long my snails last lol you can all place bets if you want, I bet 3 weeks. Thanks again though!
 
Just an FYI for anyone reading, 80*F will not kill ich, and turning up the temp without something to kill ich can lead to dissaster.
dave
 
tinkgrl12 said:
I have bought freshwater snails many times and they always keep dying... If anyone can just give me a few pointers or maybe if you know why they are dying just go ahead and tell me. Thank you!!!
Click to expand...


My three snails are madly happy but they are gigantic pigs.

Are you sure of your source for these snails? You're not buying them sick? You can tell if snails are happy - they have a habit of practically flying around the tank with their little eyestalks and feelers and ruffly bodies fully extended. If they're feeling healthy and secure they roam freely around the tank and grow very rapidly.

I would suggest using a clip to feed them leaves of dark green lettuce (escarole is good) & bunches of canned green beans in addition to letting them clean your tank (my tank fish are fed with veg flakes, f.d. bloodworms, algae wafers, and occasional live brine shrimp). My snails are in 81.5F degree water with 1 tsp/gal salt.

Hope this helps....
 
I am not sure the type of snails I am buying, they are smaller in size and you can either get them white or black with stripes. So far they are still living, I also bought a plant this time however my silver dollars are munching on it more. On that whole ick thing I turned the heat up on my tank and it did kill the ick so maybe it was a fluke but since I have kept the heat up I have not had ick since. I bought a very large snail once it was well over the size of a golf ball, he died too. They don't roam my tank as much as one of the posts said they would, sometimes they float around on the top of the tank (Which I assume is bad) and most the time they hide. Thanks for all the suggestions and thoughts though!
 
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