Mystery snail - alive or dead?

B

bobandfiona

AC Members
Dec 13, 2005
114
0
0
Dallas, TX
ok ,this is a weird one. I've lost mystery snails before. You can tell they are dead because the protective bottom shell flakes off and they usually float in the water for days. (and smell horrid!)

This yellow one has been in the same spot at the bottom of the tank for three weeks. He has not come up for air. Also, his shell looks not as pretty (but it could be algae growing on him because he hasn't moved). I've taken him out for examination a few times and he is still in there pink as a snail and reacts to me by pulling himself back in. His protective bottom is still hard. His little feelers stay out revealing only a portion of his face, but he doesn't move or even get air!

Alive or Dead? Sick? If so, what to treat him with?
 
If it is moving and not smelling then its alive. They dont always float though when they die. I bought one and it didnt move for 2 or so days so I picked it up and it was the worse smell ever. YUCK!! It was on the bottom and not floating.
I use to have 3 others now down to 2 and think 1 before long, but anyways. I had a brown one that didnt move in the day time and always went back to the same spot to sleep all day. I thought something was wrong , but he just didnt like light. DO you have a cave or something that would give him some shadow or darkness when the light comes on? I put one in and every once in a while it would come out and eat in the daytime. Maybe they like security or something.
Also you may have some fish in there that are pestering him or trying to make a snack of him and he's just to scared to move.I knew Loaches ate them and just found out that cat fish do also(thats what happened to mine when i moved them to a diff. tank). What are its tank mates and I know that others would probably like to know the size of tank and water conditions. Im not that advanced with keeping snails yet. Im still learing myself (from my own mistakes)...and LFS's bad advice! Good Luck and hope this helps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom