when a snail dies

LMOUTHBASS

LMOUTHBASS

My hypocrisy goes only so far
Jun 17, 2003
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Boston , MA
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Mark
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last week i found a clump of snail eggs on my glass i removed them not wanting an army of snails - but afterward i thought that was stupid because they were from my bluesnail which i really like! he's fun to watch
then last week he slowed down a bit n stayed in his shell - he's pretty big - but my loaches started diging into his shell to pick at (before he woulnt let them n they left him be) now his foot appears to have rotted away n a hole popped up on his shell he's been laying in one place for a while but from time to time i find him in a different position so maybe he's still kicking -
my thoughts are though - maybe it's his time n laid the eggs knowing this sort of like a Charlottes Web type thing?
i feel awful i moved him to a secluded corner where no one was bothering him but then he popped up in the middle where he's been laying for some time i think its over for him n it stinks he was so much fun to watch - he climbed everythiung:sad
 
The best way to tell with large snails is their operculum--that thin shell they cover the opening with--if they pull it close, the snail is alive. If not, it's dead.

The big snails I have tend to be pretty active. If one sits in the same spot for more than a day or two, I check them. Little snails--well, I have lots of kuhli loaches and puffers, and they clean out snails shells very quickly.
 
thanks

OG seeing how that operculum thingie has rotted away i assume he's a gonner - :sad
i first noticed a whiteish splotch on that thing when he pulled it shut n my loaches picking at it - then it grew larger n larger n just sort of was gone pretty much i wonder what mightve happened to my poor lil' fella he was the best - whatcha think about my egg laying thoughts though? that he laid them knowing the end was near? do they do this?
 
Not to the best of my knowledge, no. They normally lay eggs when there's enough food available to support more.

Snails and loaches is a pretty risky mix though--sort of like asking a kid not to eat the candy in the jar.
 
If he's been like this for a couple days, as soon as you pull him out of the water you should be able to smell a distinct smell...its so bad, you'll wish you never touched the thing in the first place. I had a large snail who died after 3.5 years and he never sat in one place for more than a half hour. After 2 days of not moving, I grew concerned and when I went to remove him the body popped out! :eek: It smelled up the room for a day or two!
 
just an update

poor lil' bugger was gone :sad - i pulled him out n a giant air bubble came out of his shell n then his limp lil' body was hangin in there way in the shell - no smell though - gosh i liked him - i wonder what did him in - he ate like a pig n i always gave him veggies- i liked him so much that sometimes when i put in fresh squash i woul put him right on top of it so he got first dibs! lol
man i'll miss him
 
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