New snails, inactive, lost one already

[lsween89]

Excuse my ignorance as we are really new to the hobby. We have a 65l tank, cycled for a couple of months then added 2 snails and 2 crabs that did well so then added 2 cerith snails, a banded trochus and a scarlet reef crab. 2 days after introducing (alimation process followed) the banded trochus died.
One of the cerith burried under and havnt seen it since so presuming all well. But the second one,, really slow moving. Still on top of the sand and moving a tiny tiny amount. I keep thinking it’s dead as I see a lot of the snail out of the shell but then it will move again. I’ve dropped food nearby but think there’s plenty of food in the tank already. Do I just wait? It’s been 4 days since added so I hoped it would be doing ok by now!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Do you have fish in the tank? How are the fish doing?
How did you acclimate the snails? Can you share the water parameters? Thanks

 

[lsween89]

Do you have fish in the tank? How are the fish doing?
How did you acclimate the snails? Can you share the water parameters? Thanks

Hi,

No fish yet, was letting these guys settled first then getting clownfish in 2 weeks. Parameters have been stable, no ammonia no nitrates or nitrites ,Ph stable. Salinity stable.
Acclimation wise we floated the bags then did drip acclimation then once temp and salinity etc were equal we put the snails into, the tank.

Got lots of copepods and everything else seems ok. I’ll attach a picture of the snail. He is moving just minutely over days!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Take it off the sand and place it on a rock, some snails can't move well in sand and some will die. Always place the snails on the rocks or against the glass IMO.

 

[lsween89]

Take it off the sand and place it on a rock, some snails can't move well in sand and some will die. Always place the snails on the rocks or against the glass IMO.

Oh thanks I’ll try that. From what I read I thought it was supposed to be a sand burrowing snail? The other one went straight under. I’ll give it a go on the rocks though!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Where did you get the snails from? I always had issues with snails from my LFS. I'd go in, get 3-4 and only 1 maybe 2 would last more than a couple of weeks

 

[56longroof]

Tank looks to clean for snails honestly. Most people add them to help with algea and detritus.

 

[W31Olds]

Snails are bit of an enigma to me. I've had a couple of different types, and I always lose a few after a few days' weeks and some many months later. The ones I have left have been in my Tank for a year and have spawned and grown so I know it's not a water problem. I think it's more of a handling issue through the supply chain in combination with the acclimation process that cause so many to die. When you think about it, they are inexpensive so probably are not handled that well. I wouldn't sweat it too much. Trochus seem to be more sensitive and be aware that some crabs will bother snails.

 

[lsween89]

Tank looks to clean for snails honestly. Most people add them to help with algea and detritus.

We are adding food at the minute incase it’s too clean but do have algae on rocks and there’s lots of copepods so definitely nutrients in the tank. The algae wafers we have put in mostly go untouched so don’t think it’s a hunger thing

 

[lsween89]

Where did you get the snails from? I always had issues with snails from my LFS. I'd go in, get 3-4 and only 1 maybe 2 would last more than a couple of weeks

The ones we got initially from our LFS have been fine to be honest. These ones we took a risk and ordered them from an online reef store (that also has a walk in store), the trochus that died was from there as well although the other cerith and the hermit crab seem to be doing well!
I’m glad to hear it’s not just me that has the issues with snails though! Lee panicking I’m doing something wrong but parameters etc seem fine!

 

[lsween89]

Snails are bit of an enigma to me. I've had a couple of different types, and I always lose a few after a few days' weeks and some many months later. The ones I have left have been in my Tank for a year and have spawned and grown so I know it's not a water problem. I think it's more of a handling issue through the supply chain in combination with the acclimation process that cause so many to die. When you think about it, they are inexpensive so probably are not handled that well. I wouldn't sweat it too much. Trochus seem to be more sensitive and be aware that some crabs will bother snails.

That’s true! I’ve been feeling really guilty at losing one but it seems like it’s quite a common thing so hopefully it’s not anything wrong with the tank and just the snails themselves or the supply chain like you say.

 

[W31Olds]

Last year ordered some inverts online that included 10 snails (trocus) and they all came in the same bag and one must have died and the result was a smelly mess that took out the other 9. The did refund my money though.

 

[lsween89]

Last year ordered some inverts online that included 10 snails (trocus) and they all came in the same bag and one must have died and the result was a smelly mess that took out the other 9. The did refund my money though.

Like you say good you got the refund but still sucks they treat them which such little care!

 

[lsween89]

Take it off the sand and place it on a rock, some snails can't move well in sand and some will die. Always place the snails on the rocks or against the glass IMO.

Hi! Just wanted to say a massive thank you. Moved the snail onto the rock after you said and it’s taken off! More movement in the last two hours than we’ve had since Friday!