snails shell going bad

[dukerman11]

Greetings, I have 2 snails that are getting pretty old and their shells are getting soft. If I put empty shells will they move in to them. The one shell has even develped a hole in it. thanks.

[aquaqueen]

i would try it. The shell on the snails back grows with them.

[RockabillyChick]

snails dont move from shell to shell like a hermit crab. they grow their shells and their bodies are permanently attached to the inside of the shell.

do you have hard water? snails need hard water, with lots of calcium and other minerals in the water for them to produce strong, healthy shells.

[nickynockynoono]

How hard is your water? Snails need calcium for their shell. Try adding crushed coral to the filter.

[daveedka]

IME for cases of deep etching, a quick increase in calcium is needed. I would reccomend dosing with CaCl or CaSo4. In addition find some crab and lobster food (high calcium) and feed it gnerously for a few days. For long term if you don't want to dose calcium crushed coral is a good solution, you can also get some Cuttlebone (bird section of the pet store) and tie it to a rock. The snails will graze it for calcium.

Once shell erosion gets bad the snails do not always recover. Don't be siprized if they do not if the shells are that visibly eroded.
Dave

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

My snail tank has a crushed coral substrate...Looks great and their shells are PERFECT, even my larger specimines are flawless...Snails (particularly if you have many) suck calcium right out of the water at a very high rate...With the crushed coral they will never deplete it... Exposed areas wher the shell has erroded will cause the flesh to calcify in those spots, but it will never really grow back..Like Dave said, sont be suprised if they dont make it if the dammage is bad.