Snail Sucked into Filter

[DGalt]

I went away for 2 days and I came back to find that my poor little golden apple snail had been sucked up into the filter. I'm pretty sure he's dead, but I'm not positive. I found him with his shell on the outside of the intake but the majority of his body on the inside. I turned off the filter and lifted him off the intake, and immediately his body pulled back into the shell. I dunno if this means he might be still alive or not...I figure if he doesn't move in the next day or so that'll confirm that he has died

I don't want this to happen again, but I would like to have a snail in my tank.

I'm running an AquaClear 50 power filter in a 15 gallon tank. I know some people suggest putting panty hose or a sponge over the intake. However, won't this stop the filter from being able to pick up larger particles such as fecal matter?

If that's the only solution then I suppose I'll try that, but any suggestions you guys can give would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[emptywallet]

smell inside his shell dose it smell? is his body still in the shell?

 

[DGalt]

his body is inside the shell and the door thing is closed up. He doesn't smell in a sense of like rotting fish or anything like that...but then again if he is dead that doesn't mean he's started decomposing, like I said I was only gone for 2 days. For all I know he got pulled up in there 2 hrs ago.


When I turned the filter off his body kinda hung limp. It wasn't until I picked him up that it pulled inside his shell and the door thing closed.

 

[emptywallet]

well right now it sounds like he is fine but stressed

 

[DGalt]

could he not move for a day or 2 because he's stressed? or if I notice no movement does that probably mean things aren't ok?

 

[emptywallet]

well when you get a snail from a lfs it could be dormant which means like not move and it could be this up to 2 days i think...also if he hasnt moved for a day smell him aslong as he dosent smell bad he might be alive still

 

[DGalt]

alright will do. he's been very active up until now so we'll see I guess (crossing fingers)

thanks for the help

 

[DGalt]

as for making the tank safer for snails...is the pantyhose / sponge idea the best? If so, how adversely does this affect the ability of the filter to do its job?

 

[emptywallet]

it will slow the filter down a tad bit IMO

 

[petluvr]

If you pick your snail up and CAREFULLY try to open the "door" you should be able to tell if he/she is still alive. Tension he is alive-no tension and his body moves he's passed.