Snail shells turning white
- Thread starter Kuhlifan
- Start date
that often occurs in older ramshorns and it usually just etching. I wouldn't be concerned unless you see pitting or holes developing.
it won't repair itself, but some erosion on the tip is not uncommon as that is the oldest part of the shell. Making sure that your water has enough buffering capacity (the hardness) prevents this erosion. If you are noticing it on young snails, you might consider adding something to the water to help buffer like crushed coral, cuttlebone, or wondershells. The calcium diet is good to ensure new thickc healthy shell growth while the overal pH and hardness prevents the erosion. I keep my tanks at a pH of about 8.
can i do that with them being in community tank with swordtails,mollies and cories? and how would i raise and maintan the ph to 8.0
My source water is luckily that high, but you can add something like crushed coral in a media bag to your filter. It will buffer the hardness and raise the pH. It erodes over time, so will need to be monitored and replaced. I think as long as you add it gradually, all of your fish will likely adjust. Really as long as your pH is over 7, supplementing diet and adding things like wondershells (or vacation feeders out of the flow of the tank) will help as well. Another option is to dose Kents Liquid Calcium (for marine tanks) diluted to the water column as well. Some contest that this works, but many snailers say that it has amazing results. I typically take a tbsp or so and dilute it in tank water and add a small amount a couple of times a week, being careful to not pour it directly onto tank inhabitants.
