Pimifix/ Snails

[Clementskimberly3]

I treated my tank with pimifix (stupid I know) already did water changes and all that. I have 2 turbo snails that have been quarantined and still move like zombies... They will not get better or die... Help!!!

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm not sure what its effect is on snails, but Pimafix is a tea tree tonic that's not very effective on marine diseases. What were you trying to treat with the Pimafix? Could you let us know how old your tank is, what other livestock you have, and your water parameters please?

 

[Clementskimberly3]

I'm not sure what its effect is on snails, but Pimafix is a tea tree tonic that's not very effective on marine diseases. What were you trying to treat with the Pimafix? Could you let us know how old your tank is, what other livestock you have, and your water parameters please?

Hello! Im two 50% water changes later. The two snails have been in a clean hospital tank. Pimifix is not safe for snails. Google it please. It killed a few snails and my abalone. He was longer than my hand. Currently my main tank is perfect with the 2 kits I have. Coral, fish, crabs, shrimp, and all the creepy crawlys are fantastic. I just need to know how to help the snails get better. They now barely move and they literally look like zombie snails moving around.

 

[exnisstech]

How long have you had the snails? I have three large turbos, almost tennis ball sized and they never move at all except at night. This has been their behavior for the few years I've had them. Watching them all day you would think they were dead but they're stuck to glass on the bare bottom.

 

[Clementskimberly3]

How long have you had the snails? I have three large turbos, almost tennis ball sized and they never move at all except at night. This has been their behavior for the few years I've had them. Watching them all day you would think they were dead but they're stuck to glass on the bare bottom.

This begun after pimifix. Tank is only a year old so.... nothing is very old. These are the last two alive. For some reason they did not die like the rest. I have new snails thriving so the issue is not after the fact or aged snails.

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm still trying to determine why you added PImafix to your tank in the first place, was there some problem you're trying to help, like sick fish?

Your snails will likely be fine if you keep them in clean water. Pimafix doesn't kill snails, but it's probably not fun for them.

 

[Clementskimberly3]

I'm still trying to determine why you added PImafix to your tank in the first place, was there some problem you're trying to help, like sick fish?

Your snails will likely be fine if you keep them in clean water. Pimafix doesn't kill snails, but it's probably not fun for them.

LFS recommend for Fish with infection. I couldn't catch him without tearing down tank. I already have a delicate ecosystem and only use natural products. Hands in tank and moving everything around could tip the scale of healthy algea and coral growth. So foolishly I treated main tank one time. Within 3 hours I had dead snails and an abalone paralyzed to the glass. The last two turbo have been out since day 1 in 10 gallon. They just are not getting better. Its been two months. I found information after the fact that stated the oil can paralyze or damage anything with a foot.

 

[Fish Fan]

LFS recommend for Fish with infection. I couldn't catch him without tearing down tank. I already have a delicate ecosystem and only use natural products. Hands in tank and moving everything around could tip the scale of healthy algea and coral growth. So foolishly I treated main tank one time. Within 3 hours I had dead snails and an abalone paralyzed to the glass. The last two turbo have been out since day 1 in 10 gallon. They just are not getting better. Its been two months. I found information after the fact that stated the oil can paralyze or damage anything with a foot.

I have no doubt that the tea tree oil isn't pleasant on inverts, but the reason it's said to be "reef safe" is because it's not very effective at treating fish illnesses, so it's thought to me mild on inverts (thus; "reef safe"= "parasite/disease safe").

It sounds like you did the treatment a couple of months ago, you moved the snails to another tank, and are still having trouble today? Was the new tank newly established? Is there enough for these snails to eat?

Are you using tap water or RODI water or maybe distilled water? What is your salt mix, and what are you current parameters?

I agree with the poster above that many snails are nocturnal, and appear dormant during the day. You mentioned that all your other inverts are doing well, so I'm thinking either their nocturnal or not getting enough to eat, but if you list your parameters and other tank details we can rule somethings out

 

[Clementskimberly3]

Ok here goes. 65 gallon, RO and tap water mix. As stated before tank is one year old.
Salinity 1.026
Temp 79 regulated
Ph 8.1
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrates 5
Phosphate .10
Alkalinity 8
The 10 gallon tank is a mirror image of main tank just lower nitrates. I have nori and algae wafers in hospital tank as needed to feed the two snails in question. As for them starving in the main tank, even if I wasn't growing enough algea, I have nori and other choices I clip in for the new snails and new abalone. The fish I was trying to treat was a diamond goby. He now has one eye but he is a machine. I am aware that it wasn't the best option. Now, after the second water change, I tried to return them to the main tank but when they fall off rocks they can not flip themselves over. I keep my hands out of the tank unless I have to get in there. All the other snails died when I added pimifix. These are the last two left alive. They have not gotten better. At this point I am not blaming. I want to help the two snails get better.

 

[Fish Fan]

I don't think there's much else you can do other than keep them in clean water and offer them supplemental foods. Many of these animals need very large and mature sand beds or they don't tend to do well in captivity in the long-term, unfortunately.

It's not uncommon for some snails not to be able to right themselves after a fall. In fact, I believe it would be the minority of snails that can do that.

Have you considered that your tap water may have copper and/or other heavy metals that may be affecting your inverts?

 

[Clementskimberly3]

I don't think there's much else you can do other than keep them in clean water and offer them supplemental foods. Many of these animals need very large and mature sand beds or they don't tend to do well in captivity in the long-term, unfortunately.

It's not uncommon for some snails not to be able to right themselves after a fall. In fact, I believe it would be the minority of snails that can do that.

Have you considered that your tap water may have copper and/or other heavy metals that may be affecting

Its filtered. Also RO only doesn't work for coral growth in my tank. After a year I got the balance down. It is a delicate dance though but I do love them.
2 clowns- Jack and Sally
1 diamond goby- Bruce Banner
3 firefish goby- cant tell them apart
3 pajama cardinal- same
1 royal gramma- Frances
1 cleaner shrimp Adams
5 peppermint shrimp (started with 2, they had babies)
4 bumble bee snails
4 trochus snails
4 Nacarrus snails
I have hermits and they had babies (which I thought didn't happen in captivity)
2 abalone - Spike and Chester.
I have excellent algea growth on back glass and rocks. Hermits, and diamond goby keep sand clean. There are also lots of creepy crawlys at night!!! Life has an amazing way of showing off in a salt water tank!! Neat little bugs and worms all doing their jobs at night. Also I stopped getting turbo snails because they can not flip themselves. All the other breeds I have in there can.

 

[Fish Fan]

Most of us are using RO with DeIonization (RODI) to prefilter our tap water. If you're using purified fresh water with any of the reputable salt mixes, you shouldn't have trouble growing corals. You'd be surprised what's in most people's tap water

It sounds to me like you're happy with your tank and everything growing in it, with the exception of some snails that may not be doing well. I would just keep them in clean water with a supply of food. I don't think there's much else to really do for them.