Today I noticed that my black mystery snail crawled up on the heater, before it turned on, I took the snail off. I'm afraid that when the heater turns on all of a sudden, it would burn the snail. Am I worrying too much, or would the heater really burn a snail. I have a Visi-therm Stealth 200W and a Visi-therm Deluxe 100W.
Snails and heaters
- Thread starter P00rColl3geBoi
- Start date
when my heater is on, i notice the snails are not on it, but when its off i will see them around or on the heater. it might be coincidence but it happens very frequently. snails, like other creatures can feel pain and are aware of their environment. if the snail were to touch a hot heater, it'd probably wince and go elsewhere.
Snails move pretty slow, I think the heaters...at least the Visi-therm brands heat up pretty fast, I've pressed my finger against it when it just turned on and could feel the heat being pretty high. If the snail feels that heat, would it move fast enough not to get burnt? I just lost a snail because it got injured by being sucked against the filter...I'm just afraid I'm going to lose another snail
you'd be surprised how fast a snail moves, especially when they smell an algae wafer hit the water.
how big of a tank do you have an what kind of filter do you use? how big was the snail? was their strainer on the intake? my apple snails are about golf ball sized and they pass over the intake with ease.
how big of a tank do you have an what kind of filter do you use? how big was the snail? was their strainer on the intake? my apple snails are about golf ball sized and they pass over the intake with ease.
get a heater guard for the heater...then your snail won't get fried 
they sell them at saltwater fish stores, cuz invertebrates (such as my old serpent starfish) like to be silly and lie on the heater and get burned. The guards are basically a plastic sheath with small slats on the side that fits over the end of the heater where the heat emits.
they sell them at saltwater fish stores, cuz invertebrates (such as my old serpent starfish) like to be silly and lie on the heater and get burned. The guards are basically a plastic sheath with small slats on the side that fits over the end of the heater where the heat emits.
I wouldn't worry too much. My snails climb all over the heater when it's off, none have ever been burned. Also, they are perfectly willing to completely let go of the surface they're holding on too (in fact, mine do it for entertainment - climb to the top, let go, float down).
If you're concerned about it though, a heater guard won't do any harm.
If you're concerned about it though, a heater guard won't do any harm.
TheMightyQueenPixie
Best Invention EVER!
Have a huge snail tank -100 gals with about 100 snails or diferent sizes. Although some claim they will burn on the heater I have yet to see one do it. If you keep your heater clean (free from algae) they wouldnt hang around it anyway. A Heater guard is great insurance though.
My snails climb all over my heaters. Ever feel your heater in the tank? When it turns on it does not instanly get burning hot. My heaters never get too hot to touch for me anytime they are on. Snails also can release quickly if they want. I've seen snails up high on the glass all of a sudden hide in their shell and fall to the ground. I wouldn't worry.