How hardy are snails?

[cichlidcichlid]

I saw one of those pretty snails that they have at the lfs and was wondering how well one giant one 1.5 inches big would do/ how long do they live? Will my african cichlids eat it? I have a little high nitrates in the tank but everything else is zero, could it live with some nitrates in the water.

 

[gomezladdams]

Theyre actually more delicate than most fish.They live about 2 years.The cichlids may or may not eat them,my mbuna occasinaly eat one

 

[fballguy]

How high are your nitrates? How often do you change water?

EDIT: Also, high nitrates will cause algae so changing water should help that problem.