I was looking at my snail and I noticed that the older parts of his shell were becoming smooth and white while his new growth is still yellow. Is this a lack of something? How can I correct it?
Snail's shell looks funny
- Thread starter Hurley
- Start date
tmtpowers, correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks like shell erosion due to acidic water conditions. I called on tmtpowers because she has been dealing with this issue a lot lately. As have a bunch of other folks. Read around on this and the FW newbe forum, and I think you'll find the solution. Or just enter the word "snail shell" in the search forums button.
Have you read this article?
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50705&page=1&pp=15
If you have sufficiently alkaline and hard water, then I apologize for sounding like a jackazzz. Shell erosion is just the most common complaint about snail shells.
It kinda looks like the snail is rubbing the old parts down with wear? If the white parts are actually see-through and thin, then I'd be willing to bet it's eroding.
Have you read this article?
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50705&page=1&pp=15
If you have sufficiently alkaline and hard water, then I apologize for sounding like a jackazzz. Shell erosion is just the most common complaint about snail shells.
It kinda looks like the snail is rubbing the old parts down with wear? If the white parts are actually see-through and thin, then I'd be willing to bet it's eroding.
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My water was pretty soft up until 2 weeks ago when I started adding crushed coral becuase I wanted to begin pressurized CO2. The crushed coral is bringing my KH and pH up but I think that this is the result of my water not being hard enough in the past. Will simply raising the KH help to improve the shell or is there something I should feed the snail to help him along.
You can also feed calcium-rich foods (tmtpowers posted a long list of them) or drop in a cuttlebone for them to graze on. You can find those for really cheap in caged bird accessories. The cuttlebone will also dissolve in the water slowly, helping to increase hardness and raise pH. But slowly.
If you really want to go the distance, you can also add liquid calcium supplements that are intended for marine aquaria with coral.
If you really want to go the distance, you can also add liquid calcium supplements that are intended for marine aquaria with coral.
Yeah, that looks like damage from low Ph and Kh. The crushed coral will help a lot as will adding calcium to his (looks like you have a boy there 
) diet. I've been recommended the cuttle bone as well. I just got two tonight but I will warn you, its a pain to keep at the bottom of the tank! I'm actually going to post a thread to see if anyone has suggestions for that so keep an eye out.
Here is that list of foods that have calcium in them that your snail can eat:
The numbers beside each food is the amount of calcium per 100g serving:
Dill Weed (208mg)
Turnip Greens (190mg)
Collards (145mg)
Parsley (138mg)
Kale (135mg)
Watercress (120mg)
Beet Greens (119mg)
Chinese Cabbage (105 mg)
Mustard Greens (103 mg)
Chicory Greens (100mg)
Spinach (99mg)
Okra (81mg)
Leaf Lettuce (68mg)
Cilantro (67mg)
Purslane (65mg)
Endive (52mg)
Swiss Chard (51mg)
Broccoli (48mg)
Cabbage (47mg)
Rutabaga (47mg)
Brussels sprouts (42mg)
Celery (40 mg)
Sweet Potato Leaves (37mg)
Green Beans (37mg)
Romaine Lettuce (36mg)
Seedless Raisins (49mg)
Orange (40mg)
Lime (33mg)
Blackberries (32mg)
Kiwi (26mg)
Lemon no peel (26mg)
Papaya (24mg)
I didn't list everything I have on my list but kept to the higher calcium foods.
You can get a liquid calcium supplement here:
http://www.thesnailstore.com/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=9
As for your snails shell damage:
I am pretty sure you have a gold mystery snail there. The white area is damaged thin shell that should be gold. It won't ever be gold though. However, if you continue to supply you little guy with calcium and a good ph then all new shell will be healthy and thick
) diet. I've been recommended the cuttle bone as well. I just got two tonight but I will warn you, its a pain to keep at the bottom of the tank! I'm actually going to post a thread to see if anyone has suggestions for that so keep an eye out. Here is that list of foods that have calcium in them that your snail can eat:
The numbers beside each food is the amount of calcium per 100g serving:
Dill Weed (208mg)
Turnip Greens (190mg)
Collards (145mg)
Parsley (138mg)
Kale (135mg)
Watercress (120mg)
Beet Greens (119mg)
Chinese Cabbage (105 mg)
Mustard Greens (103 mg)
Chicory Greens (100mg)
Spinach (99mg)
Okra (81mg)
Leaf Lettuce (68mg)
Cilantro (67mg)
Purslane (65mg)
Endive (52mg)
Swiss Chard (51mg)
Broccoli (48mg)
Cabbage (47mg)
Rutabaga (47mg)
Brussels sprouts (42mg)
Celery (40 mg)
Sweet Potato Leaves (37mg)
Green Beans (37mg)
Romaine Lettuce (36mg)
Seedless Raisins (49mg)
Orange (40mg)
Lime (33mg)
Blackberries (32mg)
Kiwi (26mg)
Lemon no peel (26mg)
Papaya (24mg)
I didn't list everything I have on my list but kept to the higher calcium foods.
You can get a liquid calcium supplement here:
http://www.thesnailstore.com/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=9
As for your snails shell damage:
I am pretty sure you have a gold mystery snail there. The white area is damaged thin shell that should be gold. It won't ever be gold though. However, if you continue to supply you little guy with calcium and a good ph then all new shell will be healthy and thick
By the shape of his shell is one way. I'm getting decent at looking a shells and telling the sex but with my snails I still like to take a "peek" at equipment or lack of just to be sure LOL!
BTW, the shell difference in male and females is that a female's shell (at the bottom around the trap door) is rounder where a male has more of a oval shape or a lip hanging over the side.
BTW, the shell difference in male and females is that a female's shell (at the bottom around the trap door) is rounder where a male has more of a oval shape or a lip hanging over the side.
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