Dormant Snail?

Hollygirl

Hollygirl

Overfilter and Understock
Sep 3, 2007
2,681
1
0
Chicago, Illinois
Last week one of my Mystery Snails laid an egg clutch (May29/30). For several days after she was above the water line when it was lights out, but no more eggs. For the last 3 days she has had extended periods of being dormant. She is tightly closed at the bottom of the tank. I keep doing the "sniff test" and she is alive. She is closed up like this in different parts of the tank so obviously she is moving around. Is this normal? I tested the water and I am zero across the board, and the other 2 snails that she shares the 6 gallon tank with are fine. The temperature is 73 degrees.
 
I have had this happen before as well. I don't know if its a problem or not. Sorry not much more help than that.
 
msjinkzd said:
I have had this happen before as well. I don't know if its a problem or not. Sorry not much more help than that.
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Does this happen randomly with all snails or just the females who have laid eggs?
 
The only snails that I have, that have not obviously displayed hibernation like behavior, are my MTS. They likely also do it, but they all look so much alike, I can't tell if a particular snail hasn't moved for a while.

Don't worry about it. The only reason I ever do the 'smell check' is if a snail is on the bottom, partially hanging out of it's shell. From my experience, if it doesn't retract as soon as you touch it, it's likely dead, or on the way out.
 
i wouldnt worry as they do tend to go into a kind of hibernation some times.
 
Thanks for the information! I thought for sure she was on her way out. She is still hibernating, but occasionally moves to other areas in the tank.
 
the hibernation thing is normal. making and laying all those eggs probably takes a lot of energy, ya know?
 
Maybe she is staying closed up to keep the male off her. It seems like my male (Butterfly) is always cadging a ride around the tank on my female (Birdseye) these days, and she's laying a clutch a week. I wouldn't blame her if she closed up shop for a while.

By the way, the clutch I hatched is doing great! They are about as bit as this "O" now, and are cruising the breeder box with their little stalks out. they surf down to the bottom too. I put some of my algae covered live plants in with them and they clean them up. I'll take more pictures when I find the camera......I can't wait until they show color.
 
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