Sick Apple Snail?

madhouse

AC Members
Mar 19, 2009
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Someone please help! My apple snail Gary has suddenly developed a 'balloon'! Does anyone know what this is? Is it fatal? My wife and I are leaving for a week tomorrow morning and I need to know if Gary will survive or if I should euthanize before I go. Please help me save my friend! Pictures are included.

IMG_1517.jpg IMG_1518.jpg
 
Yeah, it looks like he's dying. Looks like a collapsed lung. Sorry to say, it is too late for the snail.
 
I was afraid of that. Anyone else suspect the same? What can cause this to happen. He was fine earlier. A little lethargic, not himself. Even a tums couldn't get him going yesterday. We just switched to a new 20 gallon tank last week but none of the other snails (japanese trapdoor) or the fish seem affected.
 
Tums will have no effect on him. It's just calcium carbonate intended to keep the shell from decalcifying.

I have read a few threads in applesnail.net about their snails suffering collapsed lungs or lungs filled with water which Neonflux correctly pointed out. The only balloon that would seemingly develop is the outward position of the lungs. Ampullarids have both the lungs and gills. Vivs do not therefore they will not have that issue.

How long has this been ongoing? Get the snail out of the tank and place it in a small flat container. Allow it to breathe well outside of the water first. If it manages to breathe, place it back in the tank. If it fails, please post everything about your tank including water parameters, history of treatments used previously, maintenance regimen, etc.

Please keep us updated.
 
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