Ramshorn shells very soft

T

Tay690

Addicted to Loaches
Feb 5, 2009
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Hello,
I have some ramshorn snails in my guppy tank with 4 MTS and some pond snails

I have 2 problems that I need a band aid for

1st is I have an AC 20 filter on the tank and the snails for some reason (ramshorn and pond snails) keep going to the intake for the filter and staying there until they die...usually getting all this fungus growing on them in the process

what could be the cause of that?

2nd is the ramshorn snails I have seem to have a white blotches in some areas...looks like the shell is weak or decaying or something...they are red ramshorns so it's quite visible and usually is in the middle of the shell spiraling outward...is there anything that would cause this? how can I fix this?

thanks in advance,
Taylor
 
I've never seen this because I have a pre-filter over my intake- but I've read other people comment on ramshorns getting stuck on the filter intake and dying. You'll do best to get a prefilter to cover your intake and protect the snails.


What are your water parms. If your pH is less than 7 the shells are probably dissolving slowly in the water. You can prevent the errosion by upping the pH and maybe increasing the calcium hardness of the water.


Ramshorns have thin shells naturally (compared to MTS) so it is no surprise you see the problem with them before the MTS. Red Ramshorns have even thinner shells than brown ramshorns so they're really vulnerable to soft or acidic water.
 
love that avatar lol

the params are good
pH 6.4
nitrite 0
nitrate between 20-30 (can't really tell...and I just got back from the cottage so it needs a WC tonight for sure)

how would I increase the calcium hardness in my water? because I believe that is what is causing it

the MTS also have white colouration at the peaks of their shells...but I read that just meant that they are mature enough to breed?
 
my ramshorns get stuck on my filter intake too, but I prefer not to put sponges on them as it seems to reduce the efficiency/flow. I dont know why they keep going to the intake or if the suction is strong enough to pull them there??
 
Netting (like from a breeder net or some kinds of gravel filter sock) is enough to stop them from getting stuck, and doesn't reduce flow at leat on my filters. They may also need some calcium?
 
Your pH isn't really ideal for snails. Calcium will help but anything below 7 is going to slowly disolve the shells. I think 7.4 is the recommended minimum for most snails shells.

Giving them tums- or blocks of Plaster of Paris to gnaw on will help them by giving them more calcium to grow stronger shells to begin with.

Crushed Coral in the filter will help raise pH and calcium content.
 
the pH is only like that because I'm late on my WC schedule due to 6 day vacation at the cottage and 4 full days of fishing lol

Otherwise it's usually at 7 or even 7.4 because all the shells from the suicidal pond snails that get stuck on the intake just deteriorate in the substrate and keep the ph consistently high

in regards to putting "Tums" in the tank...is that safe to be doing?

will it bother the guppies, ADF, longfin zebras or albino cory in there? will they try to eat it also?

and how much should I add from 1000mg tablet?

I'm also kind of hesitant to add the crushed coral because of the fact that the snail shells don't really get cleaned up...I'm worried it will skyrocket the pH

is a pH being too high dangerous to fish? I know it can be when it is too low...and the ammonia > ammonium relationship
just wondering what will happen when you go up the scale to the higher end? anything to worry about?
 
in regards to putting "Tums" in the tank...is that safe to be doing?

will it bother the guppies, ADF, longfin zebras or albino cory in there? will they try to eat it also?
Click to expand...

Is there anything Guppies don't try to eat?

My fish peck at the tablets but quickly ignore it as it is not to their taste- it wouldn't hurt them though.

I wouldn't put more than one in at a time- and I'd be prepared that tums will cloud the water for an hour or so after being added. (for that reason I use Plaster of Paris with garlic and fish food added as an incentive to the snails instead of tums now- I don't know the science behind it but Plaster of Paris blocks have the opposite effect and somehow clear the water).


is a pH being too high dangerous to fish? I know it can be when it is too low...and the ammonia > ammonium relationship
just wondering what will happen when you go up the scale to the higher end? anything to worry about?
Click to expand...

Yes, you can go too high- but adding an occasional tums or Crushed Coral is not going to take you too high. I think it buffers out at 8.0 which is fine for most things. Your Cory probably won't BREED at that pH- but it won't be unhealthy for them.
 
Thank you very much for your info Wycco

much appreciated
 
First, your ph is too low, it should be over 7 always.

Second, you need a cover over your filter as the suction is killing your snails. See this thread for ideas including my solution: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205752

Third, as said before, increase the calcium. I like to use turtle tank neutralizer, it's cheap and easy. They come in turtle shaped blocks which I throw into the tank now and then. I have three types of snails in my tank, they are all doing well.
 
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