snails and shrimp in a low pH?

fishcatch22

fishcatch22

The Picotoper
Jun 13, 2006
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Morris, Illinois
as you may know I have a ramshorn snail and ghost shrimp. now i've heard that snails and shrimp need a high to neutral pH and that at a low pH shrimp won't be able to molt properly and snails won't be able to grow thier shells and eventually die from shell erosion. in an effort to emulate my rasboras natural waters, i've been lowering the pH, it's now at 6.6. do you think the shrimp and the snail will be OK?
 
I kept two amano shrimp in my 20g asian blackwater tank where the pH was between 6 and 7 for a little over a year. I don't know if that's good or bad but that was my experience.

And my rasboras are gorgeous. Just want to say that I'm glad you're considering the specific needs of specific fish. I really wish more people would do that.
 
TheMightyQueenPixie said:
I cannot comment on the shrimp, but the snails need a higher pH 7.0 and above. The acidic water is going to leach the calcium from their shells.
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how long does this take? the snail has been living in this low pH for over 3 months now. can't I just supplement calcium for it?
 
Hmm, this is somewhat of a tough decision. You see, if you start using crushed coral or sodium bicarbonate or what not to raise the hardness, the pH will follow and eventually your razzies won't be in their little acidic paradise anymore.

But the razzies can happily live in the higher pH whereas the snail is said to have some trouble.

I would either put the snails in a different tank, or just compromise and give up on the acidic conditions.
 
fishcatch22 said:
how long does this take? the snail has been living in this low pH for over 3 months now. can't I just supplement calcium for it?
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Not sure if it will work as well with the acidic water constantly breaking down the shell... You should start to see evidence of pitting and erosion if that is happening.
 
TheMightyQueenPixie said:
Not sure if it will work as well with the acidic water constantly breaking down the shell... You should start to see evidence of pitting and erosion if that is happening.
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he seems to have white patches towards the inner parts of his shell. is this erosion?
 
YEP. Some comes with old age, but if you see it increasing to the point where new shell is not growing underneath to replace it THEN you have a problem. Snails cannot fix old holes. Their physical fleshy body will actually calcify to "stop the leak". This is not good for snails and is actually a last ditch effort for self preservation. The shell closest to the center of the spire is the oldest, therefor ends up being the weakest. New shell grows from the lip only.
 
TheMightyQueenPixie said:
YEP. Some comes with old age, but if you see it increasing to the point where new shell is not growing underneath to replace it THEN you have a problem. Snails cannot fix old holes. Their physical fleshy body will actually calcify to "stop the leak". This is not good for snails and is actually a last ditch effort for self preservation. The shell closest to the center of the spire is the oldest, therefor ends up being the weakest. New shell grows from the lip only.
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he is pretty old for an apple snail, about 1 1/2 years old. my pH usually hangs around 6.8-7.0. I know a guy who might take him, I want to make SE asian biotope anyway.
 
What about shrimps?

One of my breeding tanks PH will be at 4...and i need a cleanup crew haha.
 
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