How do you know when it's dead?

mozart

AC Members
Mar 29, 2007
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Delawhere?
The neighborhood kids identified my snail as dead yesterday. I think it has moved a few inches since then, but I don't see the usual "seal/lid". It looks a little hollow. I've had it approx 16 months.
 
I assume you're talking about an apple snail and/or mystery snail. You can tell if an adult died in a 75gal just by lifting the lid and smelling. But, if you're daring, lift the snail and smell it. Just be prepared to:barf:
 
Yes, the sniff test is most reliable. If you are suspicious, i would recommend isolating it into a breeder trap to monitor it more closely and for ease of removal if it does in fact die.
 
Well everything smelled fine until I was in process of removing it and some of it's guts fell out of the shell and into the tank! I guess I have to do a water change and vac now. Wow. That stuff is gross. I've washed my hand 3x and I still smell it!
Does anyone ever save the shell? I tossed it in the trash, but it's prettier than most of the seashells my daughter collected off of the beach.
Thanks.
 
Never mind about saving the shell. The stench is so bad I'm not even gonna try!
 
I keep my shells......
 
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